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977.362 
L916 


"A    LOTT    OF   CITY    IN    100 
YEARS"    1871-1971'.  A  Gfi4e*^^'^l 


"A  LOn  OF  CITY  IN  100  YEARS" 
1871  -  1971 


CENTENNIAL  HISTORY 
of 


Gibson  City,  Illinois 


"A  LOTT  OF  CITY  IN  100  YEARS" 
1871  ■  1971 


CENTENNIAL  HISTORY 

of 

Gibson  City,  Illinois 


published  by  the  authority 

of 

Gibson  City  Area  Centennial,  Inc. 

1971 


Table  of  Contents 

Agriculture 5 

Biographical  Sketches 11 

Business  and  Industry 18 

City  of  Gibson 29 

History 42 

Organizations 50 

Recreation  and  Athletic  Events 65 

Religion  and  Education 70 

Special  Events  and  Reminiscences 84 

Transportation,  Plats  and  Maps 95 

Veterans 103 


■"Fix^N^^ 


X 


GIBSON  CITY  AREA  CENTENNIAL,  INC. 

June26Thru  July  3,  1971 

Gibson  City,  Illinois  60936 

"ALottof  City  In  100  Years" 


OFFICERS  & 

DIRECTORS 

President: 
L.  DeWayne  Grafton 

Spectacle  Ticket  Division: 
James  F,  Thompson 

Vice  President: 
Wayne  A.  O'Neal 

Spectacle  Division: 
Harold  D.  Graff  II 

Secretary: 
Ernest  E.  Brown 

Publicity  Division: 
James  E.  Miller 

Treasurer: 
Gordon  L.  Barry 

Special  Events  Division: 
Ruby  J.  Smith 

General  Chairman: 
L.  DeWayne  Grafton 

Special  Days  Committee: 
Kenneth  &  Jackie  Curtis 

Headquarters  Chairman: 
R.  Douglas  Knapp 

General  Secretary: 
Imogene  Smith 

Revenue  Division: 
George  C.  Childs.  Jr. 

General  Treasurer: 
Betty  J    Heideman 

Participation  Division: 
Margaret  E.  Barry 
F{()bert  P.  Boyce 

Headquarters  Secretary: 
Virginia  L.  Ricks 

S-in^imon  Avenue,  North.  Gib:.-.!-!  Citv.lH. 


UBRARV  0.  OF  I.,  URBAHA- CHAMPAIGN 


IN  APPRECIATION 


To  all  of  you  who  helped  make  this  book  possible,  we  are  grateful.  The  Cen- 
tennial Book  Committee  of  the  Gibson  City  Area  Centennial  Association  wishes 
to  thank  all  those  who  wrote  articles,  loaned  pictures  and  gave  so  freely  of  their 
information  and  time.  We  especially  thank  Mrs.  Bess  Miner  Johnson,  Mrs.  Helen 
Foster  Kelly  and  Miss  Evelyn  Dueringer  for  their  literary  contributions,  and  the 
Gibson  City  Coin  Club  which  designed  the  Centennial  Medallion. 

We  crown  Mrs.  Valeria  Hunt  of  the  Gibson  City  Courier  staff  "Super  Belle"  for 
her  editing,  writing  and  organizing  of  the  material  for  this  book! 


Centennial  Commemorative  Book  Committee: 

Harold  Farnsworth,  chairman,  businesses  and  industry 

Mrs.  David  Brownlee,  civic  organizations 

Mrs.  Stewart  Anderson,  City  of  Gibson 

Mrs.  William  L.  Day  and  Mrs.  Bess  Johnson,  biographical  sketches 

Mrs.  Richard  Schertz,  transportation,  plats  and  maps 

Mrs.  Marion  Knapp,  education  and  religion 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  Glenn  Speers,  special  events  and  reminiscences 

Harold  "Pete"  Palmer,  non-school  recreation  and  athletic  events 

Horry  Ricks,  veterans 
Raymond  Green,  agriculture 


Thp  Frederick  Barrow  family  came  from  Frederick  County  Virginia  to  the  Gibson  City  area 
in  1867,  to  seek  a  new  lifeafter  the  ravages  of  the  Civil  War.  (Picture  - 1872) 


1.  Frances  Virginia  Barrow  (Mrs.  Joseph  Jones) 

2.  .Ann  .America  Barrow  (Mrs.  Oliver  Perry  Hagin) 
:i.     Frederick  Barrow 

I.  Mary  Ann  Smith  Barrow   (Mrs.  Frederick) 

-,.     Alberta  Catherine  Barrow   (Mrs.  Samuel  W.  Wade) 
H.     Mary  Owen  Barrow  (Mrs.  Samuel  H.  Preston) 

7.  Lewis  William  Barrow 

8.  Alpheus  Walker  Barrow 

9.  Augustus  .Adolphus  Barrow 
1(1.  John  William  Barrow 

II.  Hamilton  Jefferson  Barrow 
12.  Charles  Frederick  Barrow 


A 
G 
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I 

C 
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Surt'ly    llio   Iriu"   liislory    ol    ("libson   Cily    cmmiioI    he   lold 
vMlluHil  ;i  soi-llon  on  aprii'ulliirf  iiiid  sdiiiflliiiifj  ol  Ihe  carK 
pioiu'cr  siMllers  and  Ihcii-  progress  during  Ihe  lasl  KM)  years 
There  will  be  some  unnilenlionally  omilled  due  lo  laek  of 
records 

The  land  in  (his  area  was  "not  a  barren  waste;  il  was  a 
bleak,  cold  waste  in  the  wintertime  and  lush  grass  in  the 
suinnier."  The  snow  went  the  way  the  wind  look  il,  as  far  as  it 
wanted  to  go  and  the  lumbleweeds  did  Ihe  same.  In  the 
summer,  it  was  swamp,  grass,  and  flowers  The  wind 
blowing  Ihe  tall  grass  was  as  beautiful  as  waves  on  Ihe  sea. 
One  could  see  as  far  as  the  strength  of  the  eyes  would  permit, 
and  if  one  knew  where  he  wanted  to  go,  there  was  nothing  to 
prevent  or  guide  him.  Ponds  of  water  were  numerous  in  the 
tall  grass  which  was  easier  to  walk  into  than  out  of. 

The  country  was  given  over  mostly  to  grazing  and  cattle 
were  fattened  on  grass,  then  driven  to  market  in  Chicago. 
The  farmers  had  a  hard  time  keeping  cattle  and  deer  from 
their  little  patches  of  corn.  They  purchased  hedge  plants  by 
Ihe  hundreds  for  fences,  along  with  some  zig  -  zag  rail  ones. 
These  fences  gave  way  lo  wire  ones,  and  years  later  to  some 
electric  ones  for  a  temporary  fence.  Today  one  sees  very  few 
of  any  type. 

The  first  farm  buildings  were  made  of  logs.  By  1875,  some 
saw  mills  were  available  and  roughly  -  sawed  lumber  was 
used  As  time  went  by,  farm  buildings  changed  with  needs; 
materials  were  manufactured  to  permit  building  with  con- 
crete, brick,  steel,  as  well  as  wood. 

One  of  the  early  settlers  to  have  a  brick  and  tile  factory  in 
the  area,  before  Gibson  City,  was  Andrew  Jordan  who  came 
from  New  York  in  1854  by  covered  wagon.  His  first  home  was 
a  log  cabin  built  on  the  Jordan  homestead  south  of  Gibson 
City.  The  farm  is  now  owned  and  farmed  by  Mr.  and  Mrs, 
Raymond  Reiners.  Mrs.  Reiners  is  a  great  -  granddaughter 
of  Andrew  Jordan.  He  had  the  first  tile  and  brick  factory,  and 
mosi  of  the  early  tiling  was  done  using  his  tile.  In  1880,  he 
donated  20,000  bricks  with  which  to  build  the  First  Christian 
Church  in  Gibson  City.  He  was  a  successful  farmer  and 
eventually  owned  1,100  acres  of  good  land,  feeding  most  of 
the  corn  he  raised  to  fatten  cattle.  The  corn  was  mostly  fed 
from  the  shock  with  the  corn  cut  by  hand,  and  hauled  in  on  a 
sled  during  the  winter.  Mr.  Jordan  planted  his  first  corn 
under  trying  circumstances.  His  wife  dropped  Ihe  corn  by 
hand  covering  it  with  the  hoe  while  he  plowed  the  ground 
ahead  with  a  walking  plow  and  their  first  -  born  baby  in  his 
arms. 

II  look  two  or  three  years  of  farming  this  prairie  sod  before 
the  fibrous  roots  were  decayed  enough  to  raise  a  good  crop  of 
corn.  Later  the  corn  planter  came  into  use.  It  was  a  crude 
implement  with  two  box  -  like  funnels  -  -  one  on  either  side  in 
front  of  the  wide  wheels.  The  driver's  seat  was  on  spring  rods 
behind  and  above  the  corn  boxes.  There  was  a  crank  that  had 
lo  be  jerked  back  and  forth  to  release  the  corn  from  the 
boxes.  Before  planting,  the  fields  were  marked  at  three  feet 
opposite  from  the  way  it  was  lo  be  planted;  as  the  planter 
crossed  these  marks,  the  corn  was  dropped  by  jerking  the 
crank  About  this  time,  the  double  -  shovel  cultivator  came 
into  use  which  required  a  complete  round  of  the  field  for  each 
row^  of  corn.  A  polished  steel  plow  was  introduced  by  1870 
revolutionizing  cultivation  of  our  prairies. 

Along  with  the  improved  corn  planter  came  the  reaper, 
about  1884,  which  gave  great  aid  in  the  harvesting  of  wheat, 
oats,  and  rye.  The  usual  way  of  sowing  small  grain  was  by 
hand  and  covering  by  dragging  brush  over  the  grain.  The 
harvesting  was     done  by  cutting  the  ripened  grain  with  a 


cradle;  (hen  a  flail  was  used  lo  separate  grain  from  Ihcstraw 
by  healing  ilout.  The  wind  then  blew  away  Ihe  chaff  and  dirt 
One  of  the  first  successful  reapers  was  built  in  Bloomington 
Later  came  the  crude  binders  which  cut  and  bound  Ihe  urain 
to  be  shocked  by  hand.  Then  came  the  threshing  machines 
where  Ihe  straw  was  earned  away  from  the  separator  by 
canvas  aprons  and  slacked  by  men  lo  preserve  for  wmter 
feed  II  look  30  or  more  men  to  keep  Ihe  machine  supplied 
with  sheaves  of  grain  hauled  in  from  Ihe  field  and  the 
threshed  grain  hauled  away  for  storage  to  keep  a  large 
threshing  machine  operating  at  a  profit  to  the  owner.  These 
canvas  aprons  were  soon  replaced  by  a  blower  on  the  rear  of 
the  separator  which  blew  thestraw  ontoa  stack. 

The  next  step  of  progress  for  the  small  grain  farmer  was 
the  combine  that  can  now  harvest  as  much  in  a  day  as  30  men 
could  do  50  years  ago.  About  this  time,  too,  new  railroads 
were  able  to  carry  grain  to  distant  markets. 

Corn  pickers  came  into  use  around  1920  --  the  first  ones 
were  single  row  and  very  crude.  They  were  pulled  by  horses, 
and,  needless  to  say,  were  very  inefficient.  Then  came  the 
single  row  pulled  by  tractor;  they  were  followed  by  pull  -  type 
2  -  row;  then  the  mounted  2  -  row  that  was  and  is  very  ef- 
ficient, as  are  the  3  -  row.  Now  much  of  the  corn  is  harvested 
by  large  combines  with  "corn  heads"  attached  that  pick  and 
shell  20  to  30  acres  a  day.  To  keep  up  with  the  times,  many 
are  air  -  conditioned. 

Corn  elevators  came  into  general  use  about  1910.  The  first 
ones  were  very  crude,  but  saved  much  hand  -  scooping  and 
hard  labor  as  all  corn  cribbed  before  was  scooped  into  rail  - 
pin  cribs.  Rapid  improvement  was  made  in  the  elevators  and 
as  higher  and  larger  cribs  were  built,  inside  elevators  were 
installed. 

Careful  farmers  found  their  profits  consisted  in  a  system  of 
mixed  farming,  taking  advantage  of  all  improved 
machinery,  seed  selection,  and  the  best  of  breeding  in  all 
kinds  of  livestock.  Machinery  of  every  kind  has  so  improved 
through  the  years  that  agriculture  is  no  longer  just  a  farm 
enterprise,  but  a  well  -  set  -  up  business  that  has  required  a 
well  -  planned  rotation  of  crops,  commercial  fertilizer, 
hybrid  seeds,  and  breeding  and  feeding  of  livestock.  We 
should  be  able  to  profit  by  the  hardships  and  efforts  of  our 
forefathers,  but  may  also  give  to  our  sons  and  daughters  the 
better  ways  and  means  of  our  agriculture. 

Listed  here  are  some  of  the  pioneer  farmers  who  did  much 
lo  promote  agriculture  in  the  vicinity  of  Gibson  City  during 
the  past  100  years.  The  information  was  obtained  mostly 
from  "Illustrated  Historic  Atlas  of  Ford  County,  Illinois, 
1884"  and  "Portrait  and  Biolographical  Record  of  Ford 
County,  1892".  Undoubtedly,  some  have  been  omitted  due  to 
lack  of  information. 

1.  THOMAS  STEVENS  —  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stevens  and 
family  settled  on  Section  35  of  Drummer  Township  in  the 
early  fifties.  He  engaged  largely  in  cattle  raising  and  hired 
men  to  work  for  him.  They  also  drove  the  fattened  cattle  to 
market  in  Chicago.  Two  of  the  men  were  John  Kerchenfaut 
and  William  Day,  Sr.  These  men  remained  in  the  area, 
buying  land  for  themselves  as  they  could  afford  it.  The 
Stevens'  home  was  a  large  one  located  on  what  was  then 
called  Stevens'  Creek  and  is  now  called  Drummer  Creek.  It 
was  located  on  the  main  road  from  Danville  lo  Peoria  and 
was  a  stopping  place  in  those  days  for  travelers. 

2  FREDERICK  BARROW  —  Frederick  and  Mary  Ann 
Barrow  with  their  16  children  came  to  this  area  in  1867  from 
Virginia  and  built  their  first  home  two  miles  from  our  village 
on  raw,  unbroken  prairie  land.  The  Civil  War  had  completely 
destroyed  their  property  in  Virginia,  so  they  moved  nor- 
thwest. Their  children  included  John,  Hamilton,  Augustus, 


f 


f 


7' 


An  early  farm  scene 


.;f•J.^.'■•*V.* 


Anna,  Alpheus.  Frances,  Alberta,  Charles,  Mary,  and  Lewis. 
There  were  eight  enrolled  in  the  Scotland  School  at  one  time. 
Because  of  Mr.  Barrow's  ill  health,  they  moved  to  Gibson 
City  in  1882.  He  passed  away  in  1885.  Five  of  the  Barrow  sons 
and  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Anna  Hagen,  lived  on  their  own 
farms  east  of  town. 

3.  CAI.IB  McKKKVER  —  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Calib  McKeever 
were  married  in  1855  and  with  their  six  children  came  to  this 
area  sometime  later.  One  son,  W.  E.  McKeever,  lived  west  of 
town.  They  were  the  parents  of  Mayme  Fox  (Mrs.  R.  L.); 
Earl;  Gertrude  Speedie  (Mrs.  Ralph)  deceased;  and  Miss 
Edna.  They  lived  in  Gibson  City  upon  retiring  from  the  farm. 
Their  land  is  still  owned  and  farmed  by  their  heirs. 

4.  PETER  MAIN  —  Peter  Main  was  born  in  Scotland  and 


came  to  the  United  States  in  1854  and  to  Ford  County  in  18fi6 
where  he  settled  in  Dixon  Township,  just  east  of  Gibson  City 
He  lived  on  the  farm  until  his  death  in  1880  His  son,  Peter, 
look  over  Ihc  farm  and  was  very  prominent  in  the  community 
until  he  passed  away  in  1931.  He  and  Mrs.  Main  were  parents 
of  Russell  (deceased);  Lawrence;  Ethel  Woolley;  and 
Elmer.  Elmer's  widow,  RachacI  Luther  Main,  still  lives  on 
the  farm,  since  his  death  in  1966.  The  Main  family  has  always 
been  mosi  active  in  church  and  community  affairs. 

5.  BENJAMIN  McClARE  -  Benjamin  McClure.  known 
as  "Uncle  Ben  "  was  one  of  the  well  -  known  pioneers  of  Ford 
County  in  1868  He  came  here  from  Indiana,  living  for  a  lime 
near  Springfield,  Illinois,  where  he  had  laid  a  claim  8  miles 
east.  He  lived  there  for  three  years  before  coming  to  F'ord 


County,  settling  in  Drummer  Township  some  9  miles  nor- 
thwest of  Gibson  City.  He  made  his  home  here  until  1876  when 
he  moved  from  Gibson  City  leaving  156  acres  of  good  land  to 
his  son,  O.  D.  McClure,  to  operate.  Later  the  farming  of  the 
land  was  assumed  by  "Uncle  Ben's"  great  -  grandson, 
Wallace  McClure,  who  still  lives  on  the  homestead. 


6.  OLIVER  SHIRLEY  —  Oliver  Shirley  was  an  honored 
veteran  of  the  Civil  War  and  an  influential  farmer  in 
Drummer  Township,  where  he  came  to  live  in  1869  from 
Logan  County,  Illinois.  He  married  Mary  F.  Summer  of  Ohio 
in  October,  1843.  Three  children  were  born  to  this  couple  - 
Harry;  Elizabeth;  and  Oliver.  He  and  his  wife  were 
prominent  members  of  the  First  Christian  Church  in  Gibson 
City.  His  son,  Oliver,  Jr.,  farmed  the  land  after  he  retired; 
then  it  was  passed  on  to  his  grandson,  Robert. 


7.  WILLIAM  S.  HUSTON  —  William  S.  Huston  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  on  February  1,  1849,  on  the 
same  farm  which  was  the  birthplace  of  his  father  and 
grandfather.  He  was  well  -  educated  and  after  completing  the 
public  school,  spent  some  time  in  the  New  London  Academy 
in  Pennsylvania.  He  located  in  Drummer  Township  in  1876, 
purchasing  a  quarter  section  of  land  at  $35  per  acre.  He  later 
increased  his  holdings  to  480  acres.  He  married  Miss  Mary 
Foley  and  was  the  father  of  two  sons  --  J.  Walter;  and 
Frederick,  who  died  in  1929.  A  grandson,  Howard,  now  farms 
the  homestead. 


8.  CRAIG  GILMORE  —  Craig  Gilmore  was  born  in 
Harrison  County,  Ohio,  in  January,  1837,  son  of  Nathaniel  and 
Mary  Craig  Gilmore.  The  parents  were  adherents  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church  and  were  prominent  and  highly  - 
respected  farmers.  On  March  25,  1869,  he  married  Mary  E. 
Richey  and  they  were  parents  of  Edwin  S. ;  John  R. ;  Anna 
M.;  Ida  B.;  and  Craig  M.  Mr.  Gilmore  was  one  of  the  in- 
fluential men  in  the  building  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Gibson  City.  His  land  lies  north  of  Gibson  City,  and  the  estate 
is  being  farmed  by  Fred,  a  grandson. 


9.  ALBERT  GILMORE  —  Albert  Gilmore  was  also  a  son 
of  Nathaniel  and  Mary  Craig  Gilmore.  He  came  to  Ford 
County  in  1870.  In  connnection  with  general  farming,  he 
engaged  in  stock  raising,  making  a  specialty  of  high  -  grade 
cattle.  On  February  18, 1880,  Mr.  Gilmore  married  Elizabeth 
Boundy  of  Peoria.  They  were  parents  of  four  children  ~ 
Samuel;  Emma  J. ;  Lilly  M. ;  and  Cynthia  M.  He  was  a  self  - 
made  man  who  worked  himself  up  to  a  position  of  affluence. 
His  land  is  still  owned  by  his  grandson,  Arthur  Gilmore. 


10.  DAVID  GREEN  —  David  Green,  one  of  the  early  and 
prosperous  farmers  in  the  vicinity,  came  to  the  county  in 
1870  and  settled  on  a  farm  south  of  town,  now  known  as  the 
Denne  land.  He  came  from  Ohio  where  he  had  married  Miss 
Augustus  Haines.  They  were  the  parents  of  13  children. 
Besides  farming,  Mr.  Green  manufactured  "Green's  Golden 
Syrup,"  made  of  the  sugar  cane  grown  on  his  farm.  His  oldest 
son,  Herbert,  lived  at  home  until  1883  when  he  married 
Amanda  Fox  of  Chapin,  Illinois.  They  started  farming  on  a 
farm  south  of  town  and  in  1890  bought  the  Bowker  estate 


which  is  on  present  Route  47.  It  later  was  registered  as  the 
"Maple  Grove  Farm."  At  that  time,  the  farm  was  a  swamp 
and  much  tiling  had  to  be  done  to  make  it  a  profitable  farm. 
This  tiling  was  done,  all  by  hand,  with  tile  produced  on  the 
Jordan  farm  just  north  of  Green's.  Herbert  and  Amanda 
were  the  parents  of  Blanche,  who  died  at  age  6  in  1890;  Grace 
(widow  of  Dr.  Earl  Briggs)  in  California;  Mary  Young, 
deceased;  Raymond;  Addie,  (widow  of  Albert  Burns)  In- 
diana; and  Lee  of  Alberta,  Canada.  They  lived  on  the  farm 
until  1919  when  they  built  a  new  home  across  Route  47  and 
moved  there  upon  retirement.  It  was  then  that  Raymond 
brought  in  his  bride,  Marion  Hyde  of  Rantoul,  to  move  into 
the  homestead  and  assume  the  farming.  This  was  after 
Raymond  had  served  9  months  in  World  War  I.  They  raised 
their  three  children,  Alice,  (now  Mrs.  J.  A.  Siegfried  of 
Scottsdale,  Arizona) ;  Herbert  H. ;  and  Marianne,  (now  Mrs. 
Jack  Greyer  of  Aurora)  in  the  home  where  he  was  born  and 
raised.  Besides  farming,  he  was  a  breeder  of  registered 
Belgian  horses,  having  accompanied  D.  K.  Roth  to  Belgium 
in  1919  for  his  original  breeding  stock.  When  tractors 
replaced  horses,  he  turned  his  attention  to  become  the  owner 
and  breeder  of  a  fine  herd  of  registered  Maple  Grove 
Guernseys  -  one  of  the  best  herds  in  the  state.  Fire  destroyed 
the  modern,  newly  -  remodeled  dairy  barn  and  milking 
parlor  in  1959.  It  was  then  that  he  and  his  son,  Herbert, 
decided  to  dispose  of  the  herd.  By  this  time,  Herbert  had 
assumed  the  farming  of  the  land  upon  the  retirement  of  his 
father.  Herbert,  who  is  the  fourth  generation  of  Greens  on 
this  farm  came  in  1949  to  the  home  his  grandfather  had  built 
in  1919.  His  wife  is  Mary  McLaughlin  of  Decatur,  and  their 
family  consists  of  Kathy,  James,  and  Barbara.  He  raises 
Pioneer  hybrid  seed  corn  and  fattens  cattle.  Through  the 
years,  Maple  Grove  Farm  has  always  been  an  "Open  House" 
for  relatives  and  friends.  The  occupants  are  most  active  in 
the  Methodist  Church  and  community  affairs. 


11.  JOHN  FOSTER  —  John  Foster  came  to  Ford  County 
in  1873  and  bought  a  farm  west  of  Gibson  City,  which  was 
taken  over  by  his  son,  John  S.  Foster,  in  1893.  In  1897,  John  S. 
was  married  to  Ella  Vaughn  of  Gibson  City,  whose  father  was 
a  dealer  in  farm  machinery.  They  were  parents  of  four 
children  -  John  V.,  deceased;  Helen  Foster  Kelly,  in 
homestead;  Ella  Corine,  deceased;  and  Stanhope  B.  Foster, 
who  lives  nearby  and  oversees  the  farming  of  the  land. 


12.  D.  K.  ROTH  —  Dan  and  Leanna  Mossiman  Roth  came 
from  Morton  to  this  area  in  1901  and  moved  to  the  Fulton 
farm  south  of  town,  which  is  still  in  the  Roth  estate.  He  was  a 
progressive  farmer  and  at  one  time  did  most  of  the  threshing 
for  the  farmers  here.  In  1911,  he  made  the  first  of  three  trips 
to  Belgium,  accompanied  by  his  young  neighbor,  Raymond 
Green,  to  purchase  horses.  They  bought  20  young  mares  and 
a  stallion  to  start  his  breeding  herd.  In  1923,  he  started  the 
"Corn  Belt  Hatchery  and  Feed  Mill".  This  proved  most 
successful  and  became  an  important  industry  in  Gibson  City. 
In  1937,  he  started  a  herd  of  registered  angus  cattle  which 
grew  to  be  one  of  the  best  herds  in  the  state.  The  Roth  family 
consists  of  Lelia  Pannabacker  of  Peoria,  deceased;  Frieda 
Roth  Greenan,  Scottsdale,  Arizona;  Waldo,  Florida;  Harold, 
Scottsdale,  Arizona;  Anita  Roth  Conrad,  Scottsdale, 
Arizona;  and  Helen  Roth  Francis  of  Gibson  City.  Always  a 
public  benefactor,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roth  donated  a  farm  toward 
the  building  cost  of  the  Gibson  City  Community  Hospital  in 
1951.  The  grandson  of  D.  K.  Roth,  Eugene  Roth,  now  lives  on 
the  Roth  farm  and  farms  the  estate. 


8 


Farmers 
Paxton 


This  V2  page  sponsored  by 
and    Merchants    National    Bank    of 


The  first  2  -  row  cultivators  (using  three  horses) 
came  into  use  about  liH.i.  With  weather  not  too  hot  for 
the  horses,  a  man  could  cultivate  15  acres  a  day.  The 
one  -  row  cultivators  ( using  two  horses )  took  tw ice  as 


long.  Picture  was  tal<en  on  a  farm  about  five  miles 
south  of  Gibson  City  which  was  then  farmed  by  the 
grandfather  of  John  Summers. 


*% 


r 


This  threshing  scene  was  lalten  about  1)>!»0  when  the  steam  engine  was  used. 
With  this  outfit  the  straw  was  carried  away  from  the  separator  on  a  canvas 
conveyor  that  oscillated  and  the  straw  was  stacked  by  two  men.  These 
stacks  were  shaped  so  as  to  shed  water  and  preserve  the  feed  for  horses  and 
cattle  through  the  winter. 


fm 


Lllij.it-2*«ft3ita 


•...-^ '•-<«, 


"'i  V^'^  «»■•■• 


A  threshing  scene  taken  in  1900  shows  the  oats  bundles  being         men  shown  on  stack.  The  wives  of  the  men  were  kept  busy 
hauled  to  the  separator  on  hay  racks.  The  straw  was  blown         preparing  noon  and  evening  meals  for  the  30  -  man  crew, 
out  from  the  separator.  Straw  was  placed  around  by  the  two 


10 


M.  T.  Burwell 

John  H.  Collier 

Dr.  Davis  g 

Dr.  Hoover 

Andrew  Jordan 

Samuel  J.  LeFevre  ^ 

Jonathon  B.  Lott  ^ 

Emmanuel  Lowry  Q 

Evan  Mattinson 

Jacob  C.  Mellinger  R 

Wm.  Moyer 

Negro  Citizens 

Samuel  P.  Rady  P 

John  Adams  Rockwood 

Lewis  Rockwood  H 

Dr.  Talbert  B.  Strauss  ■ 

Michael  Sullivant 

Nelson  B.  Tyler  C 

James  H.  White 

Dr.  Wiley  A 

Wm.  J.  Wilson  i 

George  W.  Wood 

SKETCHES 


11 


M.  T.  BURWELL,  a  native  of  Clark  County,  Ohio  arrived  in 
the  village  of  Gibson  in  the  spring  of  1873  and  opened  the  first 
bank  in  one  of  the  small  frame  buildings  just  south  of  the 
Illinois  Central  depot  on  Sangamon  avenue.  Two  years  later 
he  moved  to  a  wooden  building  north  of  Union  Hall. 

In  1878,  his  brother  ■  in  -  law,  William  J.  Wilson  of  Clark 
County  joined  the  banking  firm,  which  then  moved  to  a  brick 
building  at  the  corner  of  Sangamon  and  Ninth  St.,  which  Mr. 
Burwell  had  constructed.  Mr.  Burwell  retired  from  the 
banking  firm  in  1882  but  had  interests  in  other  businesses, 
owning  several  buildings  including  the  Bank  building,  the 
Burwell  Hotel,  just  east  of  the  bank  (part  of  which  is  now 
occupied  by  the  Hunt  Insurance  Agency)  and  the  Burwell 
Opera  House  where  many  social  and  civic  events  were  held. 
The  stage  there  was  as  fine  as  some  in  large  cities  and  many 
shows  and  opera  companies  appeared  there. 

Mr.  Burwell  married  Miss  Isabelle  Goodfellow  in  Clark 
Co.,  Ohio.  They  were  parents  of  several  children.  The  Bur- 
wells  moved  to  Kansas  City  about  the  mid  -  90s.  While  visiting 
her  sister  Mrs.  Wilson,  Mrs.  Burwell  died  on  March  3,  1898. 
Mr.  Burwell  passed  away  in  Kansas  City  in  1908. 

JOHN  H.  COLLIER,  pioneer  hardware  merchant  in  the 
village  of  Gibson  since  1871,  was  a  native  of  Oneida  County, 
N.  Y.  where  he  was  born  in  1844.  His  father  came  from 
England  with  his  parents  at  the  age  of  nine.  In  1855  the  Collier 
family  migrated  to  Lake  County,  Illinois.  John  was  the  oldest 
of  eight  children. 

When  only  18  years  of  age,  he  enlisted  in  Company  D,  96th 
Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  twice  wounded  but  served  until  the 
end  of  the  war.  He  then  returned  to  Antioch  Lake  County  and 
engaged  in  merchandising  until  1871  when  he  came  to  Gibson 
and  opened  the  first  hardware  store  in  partnership  with  H.  J. 
Ring. 

Mr.  Collier  held  various  public  offices  including  Supervisor 
of  Drummer  Township,  Board  of  Trustees  of  Town,  elected 
and  twice  re  -  elected  to  the  General  Assembly  of  Ford  and 
Livingston  Counties  and  First  Commander  of  Lott  Post  No.  70 
GAR. 

On  May  5, 1875,  the  Hon.  Mr.  Collier  married  Miss  Harriett 
McClure  and  to  this  union  two  children  were  born,  Ben  in  1878 
and  Kate  in  1882. 


DR.^JOSHUA  C.  DAVIS,  pioneer  physician  and  farmer, 
came  to  Drummer  Grove  in  the  spring  of  1854  and  built  his 
house  at  the  south  edge  of  the  grove.  At  that  time  there  was 
not  a  house  to  be  seen  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach. 

He  was  a  native  of  Dublen,  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood,  and  in  early  life  began  the  shady  of  medicine,  later 
graduating  from  the  Cincinnati  Eletric  Medical  College.  Soon 
after  graduation  he  went  to  practice  medicine  in  Rodney  and 
Grand  Gulf,  Miss,  and  remained  there  during  the  cholera 
epedimic  while  many  other  doctors  fled  the  area.  While  in 


Mississipppi,  Dr.  Davis  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Ellen  Hall,  a  native  of  Indiana.  About  1849,  Dr.  Davis  moved 
with  his  family  to  Saybrook,  Illinois  where  he  practiced  for  a 
few  years.  He  bought  land  in  Ford  County  as  he  accumulated 
means  and  moved  his  family  25  miles  to  the  east,  across  the 
prairie  to  Drummer  Grove  in  1854. 

Dr.  Davis  was  an  excellent  physician  and  had  an  extensive 
practice,  never  refusing  to  answer  a  call  when  needed, 
regardless  of  the  weather  or  time,  making  his  rounds  on 
horse  -  back,  by  car  t,  wagon  and  later  in  the  only  buggy  in  the 
town. 

Dr.  Davis  acquired  land  as  he  had  the  means  and  owned  700 
acres  at  one  time.  He  was  also  agent  for  much  of  the  land  in 
the  area  and  it  was  through  him  that  Jonathan  B.  Lott  pur- 
chased the  land  that  became  the  site  of  the  village  of  Gibson. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  five 
boys  and  three  girls.  As  the  children  grew  older  and  needed 
schooling.  Dr.  Davis  hired  a  teacher.  Miss  Mary  Ann 
George,  to  teach  them  in  his  home  and  invited  his  pioneer 
neighbors  to  send  their  children  there  also.  In  1866,  he  helped 
build  a  school  house  at  the  Grove  on  his  land.  The  foundation 
stones  were  visable  there  for  many  years. 

The  family  remained  on  the  farm  until  1875  when  financial 
reverses  forced  the  sale  of  the  land.  They  then  moved  into  the 
village.  In  1881,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  moved  to  Bloomington 
and  two  years  later  to  Chicago  where  a  son  lived. 

Dr.  Davis,  pioneer  physician  and  settler,  is  honored  by  a 
memorial  gift  in  his  name  to  the  Gibson  Community  Hospital 
by  members  of  the  family  of  his  great  -  granddaughter,  Mrs. 
Frank  Hunt,  Jr.  the  Plaque  was  placed  on  the  door  of  the 
Medical  Records  room. 

DR.  W.  A.  HOOVER  came  to  Gibson  City  in  September 
1886  to  practice  dentistry.  He  continued  his  practice  in  the 
same  location  for  50  years.  His  office  was  located  in  the  brick 
building  erected  by  J.  L.  Saxton  at  the  corner  of  Sangamon 
Ave.  and  9th  Street.  He  sold  his  practice  to  Dr.  H.  P.  Work- 
man in  October  1936. 

Dr.  Hoover  came  here  from  Greenville,  Ohio.  He 
graduated  from  the  University  of  Michigan.  He  married  the 
former  Laura  E.  Howver.  August  29,  1887.  She  changed  only 
one  letter  in  her  last  name  when  she  married  Dr.  Hoover. 
They  were  the  parents  of  one  daughter,  Sibyl,  who  married 
O.  R.  Middleton  (both  were  attorneys).  Mrs.  Middleton  still 
resides  in  Gibson  City.  The  Hoovers  adopted  a  daughter, 
Josephine.  She  married  Thomas  Pullen  and  now  resides  in 
Indian  Rock  Beach,  Fla. 


ANDREW  JORDAN,  with 
his  wife  and  their  year  old  son 
arrived  in  this  part  of 
Drummer  Township  in  the 
spring  of  1854  and  settled  on 
the  land  which  they  had 
purchased  and  is  still  owned 
by  their  great  grandchildren. 

Mr.  Jordan  was  born  near 
Louisville,  Ky.  in  1828.  When 
21  years  of  age  he  went  to  Cass 
Co.,  Illinois  working  as  a  farm 
hand  at  $18  a  month  until  he 
had  saved  enough  money  to 
buy  100  acres  of  land  in 
Champaign  County.  There  he 
married  Miss  Amanda  Devore 
and  two  years  later  sold  their 
land  and  moved  to  the  Ford 
Hounty  land  there  they 
•emained  until  they  retired 
md  moved  to  town. 


n'/J.  yidhji^i-     di-^<</^'" 


12 


Those  first  years  were  hard  ones;  Mrs.  Jordan  walking 
behind  the  plow,  dropping  seed  corn  in  the  furrow  while 
carrying  a  baby,  nor  was  any  work  on  a  farm  an  easy  task  for 
man  or  woman. 

The  Jordans  were  the  parents  of  five  children  --  William, 
James,  John,  Charles  and  Elizabeth.  Many  of  their 
descendants  still  live  in  this  area. 

Religious  services  were  held  in  their  home  from  the 
earliest  days  until  churches  were  established  in  the  village. 
Mr.  Jordan  set  aside  a  plot  of  ground  for  a  burying  ground, 
the  first  in  the  area.  Most  of  the  graves  were  moved  to  the 
Drummer  Township  Cemetery  after  it  was  established  in 
1876. 

Large  deposits  of  gravel  were  found  on  his  land  and  Mr. 
Jordan  opened  pits  and  operated  the  largest  tile  and  brick 
factory  in  the  area.  The  tile  was  used  near  and  far  to  drain 
the  wet  swampy  land  and  the  bricks  were  used  in  the  building 
of  the  stores  and  houses  in  the  town. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jordan  were  members  of  the  First  Christian 
Church  and  gave  the  brick  used  in  the  building  of  that  church 
many  years  ago. 


SAMUEL  J.  LeFEVRE,  a  native  of  Ohio  came  with  his 
parents.  Dr.  W.  C.  and  Martha  Jewel  LeFevre  to  their  farm 
in  Drummer  Township,  Ford  County  in  18f>6.  On  August  13. 
1862.  he  enlisted  as  a  member  of  Company  K,  76th  Regiment 
of  Illinois  Infantry  and  served  as  a  non  -  commissioned  of- 
ficer until  near  the  close  of  the  war.  He  received  a  gun  -  shot 
wound  on  the  last  day's  fight  of  the  war  on  April  9,  1865.  Mr. 
LcF'cvre  was  married  to  Miss  Laura  A.  Carver  in  1866,  a 
native  of  Norton,  Mass.  They  were  the  parents  of  two 
daughters,  Anna  J.  and  Mary  Etta. 

Mr.  LcFcvre  remained  on  the  home  farm  until  1872  when 
he  moved  into  the  little  village  that  had  grown  up  in  sight  of 
his  home,  and  there  engaged  in  lumber  and  coal  business.  In 
1891  -  92  he  erected  an  electric  light  plant  and  brought  lights 
to  the  homes  and  streets  of  the  little  city. 

Mr.  LeFevre  served  in  many  offices  of  the  town  and 
township  -  Supervisor,  on  the  first  village  board,  school 
trustee,  school  treasurer,  and  other  important  a.ssignments. 

The  LeFevres  gave  a  play  ground  for  the  children  just 
north  of  the  Methodist  Church  where  there  is  a  marker  to 
their  memory. 


^^^-.^ 


JONATHAN  B,  LOTT  was  born  in  1839,  in  Licking  County, 
Ohio,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  McLean  County  in  1847 
where  he  grew  up  on  a  farm.  When  the  Civil  War  broke  out, 
he,  with  a  friend  and  a  classmate.  Joseph  Fifer,  who  became 
the  Governor  of  Illinois,  enlisted  in  Company  C,  of  the  Thirty 
-  third  Illinois  Infantry  and  served  together  throughout  the 
war.  They  were  discharged  about  the  .same  time  in  1865  and 
afterward  attended  Illinois  Wesleyan  University, 
Bloomington. 

On  Jan.  1,  1867  Mr.  Lott  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Margarets.  Gibson  in  Bloomington.  In  1869,  they  purchased 
225  acres  of  land  in  Section  11  of  Drummer  township.  Ford 
County,  and  moved  there  that  spring  Their  first  dwelling 
was  a  12  X  14  foot  boxcar  that  had  been  moved  16  miles 
across  the  prairie  from  Faxton.  This  was  "fixed  up"  to  live  in 
while  their  cottage  was  being  built.  Joseph  Fifer  spent 
.several  weeks  with  them  that  summer  and  said  it  was  all 
quite  comfortable  with  lean-  tos  added  on  the  sides. 

Mr.  Lott,  with  his  brother,  James,  platted  the  village  that 
first  year.  The  map  was  ready  for  registration  on  Nov.  4, 
1870.  He  chose  the  name  of  Gibson  for  the  village  in  honor  of 
his  wife,  Margaret  Gibson. 

Mr.  Lott  had  recognized  the  value  of  transportation  and 
knowing  of  the  plans  to  build  railroads  through  the  area,  had 
contacted  many  people.  With  the  help  of  influential  friends, 
they  were  able  to  induce  the  builders  of  the  Oilman,  Clinton 
and  Springfield  railroad  to  come  through  Mr.  Lott's  land  and 
the  Lafayette,  Bloomington  and  Mississippi  road  to  intersect 
it  at  this  place.  Then  later,  in  1874.  the  Paducah  and  Co. 
changed  its  route  and  came  through  the  village  of  Gibson 
also.  Mr.  Lott  did  more  in  securing  transportation  in  every 


13 


direction  for  this  village  than  many  a  person  has  done  for  a 
much  larger  city. 

He  established  a  real  estate  business  and  did  many  things 
to  promote  the  growth  and  welfare  of  the  town,  but  lived  but 
ten  short  years  before  death  followed  a  severe  illness  on  Sept. 
18, 1879.  He  was  sincerely  mourned  by  all  of  the  townspeople. 

Mrs.  Margaret  Lott  continued  to  make  her  home  in  the 
town  where  she  was  active  in  community  and  church  work. 
She  was  fond  of  children  and  in  the  early  days  taught  a  large 
class  of  young  folks  in  Union  Hall,  doing  many  special  things 
for  them.  She  continued  to  be  interested  in  the  people  of  the 
community  as  long  as  she  lived.  In  1886,  she  became  the  wife 
of  Mr.  O.  A.  Damon.  She  passed  away  in  August,  1924,  at  the 
age  of  80  years. 

EMMANUEL  LOWRY,  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
Gibson  Courier,  became  a  resident  of  Ford  County  and  the 
village  of  Gibson  in  1875.  He  was  born  in  Somerset!  County, 
Pa.  in  1837,  a  son  of  Michail  and  Salome  (Moyer)  Lowry. 
Emmanuel  received  his  primary  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county  and  then  took  a  classical  course 
in  Bethany  College  in  West  Virginia.  He  served  a  regular 
apprenticeship  to  the  printer's  trade  in  Somerset,  Pa.,  and 
then  spent  some  years  in  teaching  in  the  public  and  Normal 
schools  in  the  county.  In  1870,  Mr.  Lowry  bought  a  half  in- 
terest in  a  paper  in  Wadsworth.  Ohio  where  he  worked  for  one 
year  then  going  to  Eureka,  Illinois.  In  1875  he  came  to  Gib- 
son, purchasing  the  "Courier"  which  he  continued 
publishing. 

Mr.  Lowry  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Phoebe 
Colborn  at  Somerset,  Pa.  in  September,  1862.  She  was  a 
successful  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  her  native  county 
and  well  fitted  to  be  a  help  -  mate  in  her  husband's  career. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  four  living.  Charles 
(in  the  Courier  office),  James  P.,  John  A.,  and  RusseL 
Emmanuel  Lowry  died  April  25,  1907;  Phoebe  on  Oct.  15, 
1907.  The  Lowry  sons,  Charles  and  J.  Percy,  published  the 
Gibson  Courier  for  many  years,  merging  with  the  Enterprise 
in  1933.  They  sold  their  interest  in  the  newspaper  to  George 
Woolley  and  his  son  John  in  1940. 

EVAN  MATTINSON  was  born  in  1857  in  Clark  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  received  his  education  and  engaged  in  far- 
ming until  1880  when  he  came  to  Gibson  City.  He  was  first 
employed  as  a  clerk  in  the  banking  house  of  Burwell  and  Co. 
In  March  1885  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Minnie  Belle 
Wilson,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  J.  Wilson.  They  were 
the  parents  of  one  child,  Clarence.  Mr.  Mattinson  became  a 
member  of  Ihe  banking  firm  of  Mattinson,  Wilson  and  Co. 
upon  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Burwell  and  the  re  -  organization 
of  the  firm. 


In  1871,  JACOB  C.  MELLINGER,  in  partnership  with  his 
father,  purchased  960  acres  of  land  adjoining  the  village  of 
Gibson  to  the  north.  In  1873,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mellinger  moved  to 
the  village  where  he  erected  a  fine  house  and  large  stables  at 
the  north  edge  of  the  village  on  the  west  side  of  Sangamon 
Ave  They  were  natives  of  Lancaster  County,  Ohio  Mr 
Mellinger  engaged  in  extensive  live  stock  raising  and  trading 
them  later  in  farming. 

The  Mellingers  were  the  parents  of  two  sons,  Dello  who 
died  quite  young,  and  Frank  They  also  had  an  adopted 
daughter  Louise,  who  became  ill  and  died  while  in  college. 

Mr.  Mellinger  was  active  in  civic  attains  He  was  a 
directior  of  the  Building  and  Loan  Asswiaiion,  also  of  the 
Gibson  Land  Improvement  Company  Wlule  serving  as  High- 


way Commissioner,  promoted  the  graveling  of  the  first  mile 
of  road  in  the  township. 

Mr.  Mellinger  deeded  six  acres  of  land  to  the  city  for  a 
park,  which  was  located  one  block  east  of  his  home.  This  was 
known  then  as  Mellinger  Park,  a  name  long  since  forgotten, 
now  just  "North  Park".  He  platted  a  few  lots  for  sale  across 
the  street  west  of  the  park.  When  houses  were  built  there, 
they  became  known  as  the  "Silk  Stocking  Row".  The 
Mellingers  returned  to  Ohio  in  1893.  The  Mellinger  Pasture 
land  to  the  north  of  town  was  the  "Town  Cow  Pasture." 
Probably  very  few  people  living  today  can  remember  the 
days  when  "town  people"  kept  a  cow  in  a  barn  back  of  their 
houses  and  in  the  summer  time  hired  a  boy  to  drive  the  cow  to 
pasture  and  back,  from  May  first  to  late  October  in  time  for 
evening  milking.  That  was  one  way  for  boys  to  earn  some 
"hard  to  come  by"  pocket  money  in  those  days,  and  if  he 
were  lucky,  he  might  get  two  cows  to  drive  to  pasture.  The 
football  field  and  all  the  new  houses  have  long  since  taken 
over  the  "Old  Cow  Pasture". 

WILLIAM  MOYER  was  the  first  commercial  businessman 
in  the  village  of  Gibson.  On  December  1,  1870,  in  one  of  the 
small  frame  buildings  south  of  the  Illinois  Central  railroad 
depot.  There  is  no  biographical  record  of  the  Moyers  and  the 
only  relative  they  had  was  a  niece  of  Mr.  Moyer's;  Mrs.  John 
Smith  who  lived  on  North  Church  Street  in  later  years.  "Mr. 
Moyer  was  a  man  of  superior  judgment  and  discretion  and  by 
strict  attention  to  management  in  business,  accumulated  a 
fortune,  which  caused  him  to  be  recognized  as  the  wealthiest 
man  in  town." 

Mr.  Moyer  was  generous  to  the  town  where  he  had  ac- 
cumulated his  wealth  and  gave  several  substantial  gifts  to 
the  city,  including  the  first  library  at  the  intersection  of 
Sangamon  and  Ninth  streets.  The  new  library  still  bears  his 
name.  He  gave  many  other  gifts  to  churches  and  charitable 
causes.  Mrs.  Moyer  died  in  1888  after  which  Mr.  Moyer 
moved  to  Bloomington  where  he  passed  away  Oct.  25,  1914. 


Mrs.  Percy  Miner  <  center)  and  her  tuo  daughters.  Bernice  (at  left) 
and  (vnthia  look  part  in  the  promenade  in  downtown  Gibson  City 
last  Saturdav  afternoon.  Promenades  are  scheduled  each  Saturday 
at  L'  p.m.  Everyone  in  the  community  is  urged  to  take  part  in  these 
activ  ities. 


14 


EARLY  NEGRO  CITIZENS 


Very  early  in  the  history  of  Gibson,  a  number  of  Negro 
people  came  from  the  Sullivant  Farm  of  Burr  Oaks,  now  the 
Sibley  Estate.  Some  of  them  had  been  born  in  slavery,  and 
nearly  all  had  come  from  Tennessee  to  work  at  the  Sullivant 
farm. 

The  circumstances  of  their  choosing  Gibson  City  as  a 
permanent  residence  are  interesting.  Michael  Sullivant,  who 
purchased  40,000  acres  in  what  is  now  Sullivant  Township  in 
186,S  for  $3.50  an  acre,  sent  his  farm  overseer  or  foreman. 
John  M.  Miner,  to  Tennessee  to  hire  Negro  men  to  work  at 
Burr  Oaks,  one  -  half  mile  south  and  east  of  what  is  now 
Sibley.  II  was  in  March.  1870,  when  he  went  on  this  mission 
and  hired  about  20  men,  who  came  to  Paxton  by  train,  where 
he  took  them  to  a  restaurant  for  dinner.  They  were  then  taken 
to  a  clothing  store,  where  they  were  outfitted  with  warm 
clothing,  underwear,  shirts,  pants,  coats,  caps,  shoes,  mit- 
tens, etc.,  for  winter  wear,  for  which  they  were  ill  equipped. 
Plans  had  been  made  to  meet  them  by  wagon  at  the  train, 
then  spend  the  night  at  a  farm  sleeping  in  a  barn  under  heavy 
blankets,  and  finishing  the  trip  the  next  day.  The  next 
morning  the  men  were  taken  by  the  drivers  with  two  wagons 
with  four  mules  hitched  to  each  one  because  of  the  mud.  and 
the  20  miles  to  Burr  Oaks  were  finished  in  this  fashion, 
driving  through  mud  and  slush  all  the  way. 

The  Negro  men  proved  efficient  workers,  and  were 
employed  on  the  same  basis  as  the  2.50  white  men  who  were 
already  working  at  the  efficiently  managed  Burr  Oaks  farm. 
Later  on  wives  and  children  joined  the  men.  and  when  Burr 
Oaks  farm  was  lost  in  the  1875  money  panic,  some  of  them 
settled  in  Gibson  City.  They  bough;  small  homes,  sent  their 
children  to  school,  and  m  1877  established  a  church,  the 
African  Methodist  Episcopal,  and  erected  their  church 
building  in  1879  In  recent  years  this  church  has  been  known 
as  Alexander  Chapel.  Rev.  Aaron  Ward  assisted  in 
organizing  this  church  and  was  the  first  minister. 

Among  those  early  pioneer  families  were  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
William  McConnell,  (also  referred  to  as  McCornell)  and 
those  who  remember  them  will  know  that  he  could  whistle 
most  musically.  Their  daughter.  Beulah  McConnell,  married 
Walter  Johnson  of  Gibson,  who  became  an  medical  doctor 
and  practiced  in  Chicago  for  many  years.  Another  daughter. 
Zephie.  married  Pearl  Johnson  of  Pontiac.  They  lived  in 
Gibson  City  and  were  parents  of  five  children,  all  of  whom 
graduated  from  Gibson  High  School:  Lois.  Pearl.  Jr..  Julian 
(deceased*,  Wilbur  and  Maxine.  W'ilbur  served  as  custodian 
at  the  new  high  school  for  several  years  and  now  resides  in 
Decatur.  Maxine  is  a  much  -  traveled  person  who  sang  with 
world  -  renowned  bands  and  traveled  around  the  world  as 
soloist  with  the  bands.  She  is  presently  nursing  in  Chicago  but 
maintains  her  residence  in  Gibson  City  at  627  North  Melvin. 

Two  of  the  McConnell  sons  entered  the  medical  profession 
and  practiced  in  Chicago,  James  McConnell  as  a  doctor  and 
Charles  as  a  dentist. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Green,  also  were  early  residents.  P'or 
many  years  he  was  the  janitor  at  the  school.  Among  other  of 
those  early  families  were  the  Robert  Huddlesons,  Ged 
Rankins  and  George  Morton  families. 

A  Civil  War  veteran  was  Gilbert  Jordan.  He  worked  for  the 
cily  and  always  paraded  with  the  GAR  in  Memorial  Day 
parades.  His  son  Mose  was  a  dining  car  steward,  and  son 
Benny  was  a  veteran  of  World  War  I. 

James  J.  Kibble,  who  came  to  Gibson  City  and  lived  will 
Rev.  Aaron  Ward,  was  at  one  time  janitor  al  Ihe  school.  His 
daughter.  Miss  .Mbcrta  Kibble,  still  resides  al   506  North 


Guthrie.  S.  S.  Mitchell,  a  barber,  was  among  those  who  came 
from  Burr  Oaks.  Benjamin  Thomas  was  also  an  early  barber 
here. 

The  Mark  Anthony  family  was  perhaps  the  best  known. 
Mr.  Anthony  was  a  barber.  He  was  unanimously  elected  to 
the  office  of  city  clerk  after  the  village  had  grown  in  size 
considerably.  He  served  from  May  1',  1880,  to  April  30,  1881. 
"Aunt  Millie  Young"  was  Mrs.  Anthony's  mother  and  was  a 
nurse.  She  was  much  loved. 

Page  Price  was  a  Civil  War  veteran.  His  wife,  Addie  Price, 
who  always  said  she  was  born  in  slavery,  was  a  cateress  and 
much  in  demand. 

The  Stokes  and  Fields  families  did  not  come  to 
Gibson  with  the  Burr  Oaks  people.  Thomas  and  Sarah  Stokes 
came  "on  their  own"  from  Tennessee.  They  were  parents  of 
several  sons  and  daughters,  all  of  whom  were  successful  and 
respected  citizens.  They  purchased  all  of  the  "100  block"  on 
North  Guthrie  and  resided  there.  This  block  was  known  as 
Stokes  Hill,  Two  of  their  grandsons  were  Thomas  Fields  and 
Sam  Fields.  Mrs.  Mary  Thomas  Fields,  wife  of  Sam  Fields, 
still  resides  in  the  Stokes  Hill  block  at  114  North  Guthrie. 
Their  son,  LeRoy  Fields,  graduated  from  Gibson  High  School 
in  1929.  attended  the  University  of  Illinois,  and  graduated 
from  Bradley  University.  He  is  teaching  Special  Education  in 
Elgin  and  resides  in  Chicago. 

Tommyetta  Stokes,  aunt  of  Thomas  and  Sam  Fields,  was 
the  first  Negro  graduate  of  Gibson  City  High  School.  She 
graduated  from  nursing  school  and  was  supervisor  of 
Providence  Hospital  in  Chicago.  She  later  married  Rev. 
Beckman  of  Springfield. 

The  George  Fields  family  came  from  Bloomington.  George 
"Turk"  Fields  met  and  married  Laura  Stokes  in  Pontiac. 
and  from  there  they  came  to  Gibson  City.  They  were  parents 
of  nine  children.  Mr.  Fields  followed  the  trade  of  drayman. 
He  conducted  a  lunch  stand  al  the  canning  company  during 
canning  season  and  was  known  as  an  excellent  cook.  In 
October,  1880,  he  was  involved  in  an  accident  at  the 
Eggleston  andSpaulding  tile  factory,  which  claimed  the  lives 
of  two  other  workmen.  This  factory  was  located  in  the  west 
part  of  town  near  Ihe  junction  of  the  then  Lake  Erie,  Western, 
and  Wabash  railroads.  Fortunately.  Mr.  Fields  escaped 
serious  injury. 

Two  of  the  well  -  remembered  citizens  of  Gibson 
City  who  were  children  of  the  George  Fields  were  Thomas 
and  Sam  Fields.  Thomas  worked  as  custodian  at  the  First 
National  Bank  for  31  years  and  in  the  old  Building  and  Loan 
for  20  years.  He  and  his  wife.  Cora  Burris  Fields,  lived  in  Ihe 
same  house  on  Lott  Boulevard  all  of  their  married  life,  where 
Mrs.  Fields  still  resides  at  309  South  Lott.  She  was  the 
granddaughter  of  Solomon  Fowler,  who  lived  on  a  farm  for 
many  years  on  Ihe  Sibley  Estate. 

Sam  Fields  was  a  mason.  He  built  many  of  the  business 
houses  as  well  as  dwellings  in  Gibson  City  and  was  the  mason 
for  the  present  Lamb  Funeral  Home, 

Thomas  and  Sam  Fields  had  a  brother.  William  Fields, 
who  graduated  from  Gibson  High  School  and  was  a  dentist 
for  many  years  in  Chicago. 

As  shown  in  this  factual  account  of  the  early  Negroes  of 
Gibson  City,  they  contributed  to  Ihe  spiritual,  cultural, 
social,  business,  and  industrial  growth  in  the  early  days  of 
the  town.  Their  good  citizenship  has  enriched  Ihe  life  of 
Gibson,  leaving  happy  memories  in  Ihe  minds  of  many  of  the 
present  older  residents  of  Gibson  who  knew  them  personally 
and  remember  Ihem  with  affection. 


15 


40-         ^ 


S.WU'KI.  P.  RADY  ,  pioneer  lawyer,  was  born  in  New 
Albany,  Ind  in  1853.  His  parents  died  when  he  was  a  small 
child  He  was  reared  by  an  older  brother  and  received  his 
education  in  the  local  schools,  then  attended  law  college  in 
Ohio. 

He  arrived  in  Gibson  City  in  September  of  1881  and  served 
as  superintendent  of  the  schools  for  one  year  before  opening 
his  law  office,  which  he  shared  with  Link  Phillips  for  a  few 
years  Later  he  moved  into  his  own  office  over  the  First 
National  Bank  where  he  maintained  an  office  until  his  death 
in  lOOfi  His  wife  died  in  1957.  Mr.  Rady  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Lillian  L.  Palmer  Oct.  13,  1885  in  North 
Hillsdale,  N  Y  Their  first  home  was  at  608  East  13th  St.  in 
Gibson  City.  There  were  the  parents  of  three  children,  Chloe, 
Ivy  and  Samuel.  Their  daughter  Chloe,  assisted  her  father  in 
his  law  office  from  early  teen  -  age.  She  and  Samuel  still 
reside  in  Gibson. 

In  1900  Mr  Rady  purchased  40  acres  of  land  from  J.  D. 
Mellinger  that  lay  between  Melvin  and  Church  streets  and 
15th  and  19th  streets  and  planned  a  new  addition  for  the  town 
lo  be  called  "College  Hill."  In  1903  this  land  was  surveyed 
and  streets  were  constructed.  In  1905  cement  sidewalks  were 
laid  and  trees  planted  along  each  street.  Lots  were  for  sale  in 
the  new  addition. 

When  it  became  necessary  to  build  a  new  high  school,  Mr. 
Rady  deeded  Block  8  in  the  College  Hill  Addition  to  Drum- 
mer Township  High  School  for  a  site  for  the  high  school  which 
was  completed  in  1914. 

JOHN  At)AlVlS  ROCKWOOD  lived  in  LaSalle  Co.,  Illinois 
until  I8ti3  when  he  moved  his  family  to  Normal,  Illinois.  In 
IH72  I  hey  sold  their  home  there  and  moved  to  a  farm  in 
Drummer  Township,  later  moving  to  the  village.  The  Rock- 
woods  were  the  parents  of  three  children,  Lewis,  Ralph, 
Gertrude  (wife  nf  William  McKeever)  and  an  adopted 
daughter,  Mamie,  who  married  Walter  Mottier. 

I.KWIS  ROCKWOOD  received  his  education  in  the  schools 
al  Normal  and  taughl  school  before  entering  the  employ  of 
Ihe  Maltinson,  Wilson  and  Co.  banking  firm  where  he 
achieved  the  position  of  cashier.  He  was  twice  married,  first 
loMissFlorenceMoffett  in  1884  inPaxton.  ShediedNov.  1  in 
1885  and  on  May  9,  1889,  he  married  Miss  Ida  Baerd  and  to 
Ihcm  was  born  one  son  Roscoe  in  1890. 

DR.  TALBERT  B.  STRAUSS  was  born  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio 
Nov.  6,  1845  and  received  his  high  school  education  in 
Fredericksburg.  He  enlisted  in  Company  D  of  the  120th. 
Infantry  and  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Vicksburg. 

In  1864  he  moved  to  Paxton,  Illinois  and  studied  under  Dr. 
J.  M.  Waters,  formerly  of  Gibson.  After  three  years  of 


private  study  he  entered  Rush  Medical  College,  was  licensed 
in  1878  and  located  in  Gibson. 

In  1869  Dr.  Strauss  married  Miss  Anna  George  to  whom 
two  sons  were  born.  Vernon  and  Bryson.  In  1872  the  mother 
died  and  in  1878  Dr.  Strauss  was  wed  to  Sarah  E.  McKcevei-. 
They  were  the  parents  ot  three  children,  Ethel  M.,  Elizabeth 
W.'and  Charles  E 

MICHAKI.  SfLLIVANT  began  the  operation  of  his  42.600 
acre  farm  in  1866  with  headquarters  at  Burr  Oaks.  10  miles 
north  of  where  the  future  village  of  Gibson  would  he  located. 
There  were  at  times  as  many  as  300  men  employed  at  this 
farm,  some  of  them  having  families. 

This  farm  was  nationally  known  as  the  "largest  corn  farm 
in  the  world".  Before  the  Chicago  and  Paducah  railroad  was 
constructed  through  the  big  farm  this  corn  crop  was  hauled 
to  the  railroads  in  Gibson  and  shipped  to  market  in  the  east, 
also  some  to  Chicago. 

There  was  a  great  demand  for  the  prairie  hay  which  was 
baled  at  the  farm  and  hauled  lo  the  east  -  bound  trains. 
During  the  haying  season  as  many  as  30  carloads  a  week 
would  be  shipped  This  meant  much  to  business  in  the  village. 

Several  of  the  people  living  at  Burr  Oaks  established 
homes  in  Gibson  City  or  on  farms  near  by  after  that  farm  was 
taken  over  by  Hiram  Sibley. 

NELSON  B.  TYLER  was  one  of  the  early  merchants  of 
Gibson,  having  come  to  the  village  in  the  summer  of  1872  and 
opening  a  grocery  store  on  the  "north  end"  of  the  main 
street. 

He  was  born  in  Lake  County,  Illinois,  but  went  with  his 
parents  to  their  old  home  in  New  York  State  when  he  was 
three  years  old,  returning  to  Illinois  in  1864.  When  less  than  20 
years  of  age  he  came  to  the  village  of  Gibson  and  opened  a 
grocery  store  in  the  "north  end",  later  putting  in  a  stock  of 
general  merchandise.  Mr.  Tyler  continued  in  this  occupation 
until  1885  when  he  became  a  salesman  for  a  prominent 
Chicago  firm. 

Mr.  Tyler  was  married  in  1897  to  Miss  Lottis  R.  Palmer  in 
North  Hillsdale,  a  native  of  New  York  State.  They  were  the 
parents  of  two  daughters,  Charlotte  and  Florence.  (Mrs. 
Florence  Tyler  Rich,  who  still  resides  in  the  city. ) 

.lAMES  H.  WHITE,  a  pioneer  grocer,  who  continued  in 
business  in  the  same  location  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  was 
born  in  Scotland  in  1858.  The  family  immigrated  to  the  United 
States  of  America  in  1865  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  He 
went  to  work  in  a  twine  factory  in  Xenia,  Ohio  in  1875,  then 
came  to  Gibson  in  1879  where  he  opened  a  small  grocery  store 
and  continued  in  the  business  until  his  death.  He  was  a 
progressive  businessman  and  citizen.  In  1880  Mr.  White 
married  Miss  Rachael  Thompson  of  Xenia,  Ohio.  They  were 
the  parents  of  two  daughters.  Maud  Ellen  and  Ethel  .Agnes. 

DR.  THOMAS  R.  WILEY,  a  pioneer  physician  and  surgeon 
of  Gibson  City,  was  born  near  Colfax  in  McLean  Co..  Illinois. 
His  father,  Lyttle  R.  Wiley  was  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  his 
mother  was  from  Indiana.  They  came  to  Illinois  in  1840, 

Thomas  Wiley  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  after  finishing 
preparatory  school,  took  a  full  college  course  at  Illinois 
Wesleyan  University,  graduating  with  the  class  of  1871.  He 
then  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Hill  of 
Bloomington  and  later  took  a  course  of  lectures  at  the 
University  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor.  His  next  affiliation  was 
with  Rush  Medical  College  in  Chicago  graduating  with  the 
class  of  1874.  In  March  of  1874,  Dr.  Wiley  established  a 
practice  in  Gibson  City  which  he  continued  with  marked 
success.  In  June  1874  he  married  Miss  Mattie  E.  Reeves  of 
LeRoy,  Illinois.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Wiley  were  the  parents  of  one 
child,  Beulah  Belle.  The  doctor  filled  various  official  offices  - 


16 


President  of  Village  Board,  school  board.  Building  and  Loan 
A.ssociation.  and  other  responsible  positions  and  was  also 
active  in  church  and  community  affairs.  (Beulah  Wiley 
married  Dr.  Frank  Hunt,  a  veterinarian.)  Many  of  the 
Wiley's  descendants  reside  in  the  community. 


WIIJ-IAM  J.  WILSON    a  native  of  Clark  County,  Ohio. 

received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  that  state  and  there 
married  Miss  Lydia  Goodfellow  in  1863.  He  engaged  in  far- 
ming. In  1876  they  moved  to  Gibson  City  where  Mr  Wilson 
was  in  the  grain  business  until  his  elevator  burned  He  then 
joined  the  banking  firm  of  his  brother  -  in  -  law.  M.  T  Bur- 
well.  He  also  was  an  extensive  land  -  owner  in  the  area  and 
had  business  interests  in  other  institutions.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wilson  were  the  parents  of  ten  children. 


GEORGE  W.  WOOD,  pioneer  carpenter  in  Gibson  was  born 
in  Bloomington,  Ind.  in  1847  and  came  to  Illinois  when  a 
young  man  where  he  engaged  in  farming  near  Colfax  until 
1872.  He  then  came  to  the  village  of  Gibson.  From  that  time 
he  followed  the  carpenter  trade  until  his  death  in  1942. 

He  was  the  only  carpenter  who  could  claim  the  distinction 
of  working  on  every  church  that  was  built  in  the  town  during 
his  lifetime,  beginning  with  the  Methodist  Church  in  1872. 
This  church  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  February  1888.  Mr. 
Wood  then  helped  build  the  second  Methodist  Church  anH  the 
present  one  which  was  dedicated  in  1914. 

He  also  assisted  in  the  building  of  many  of  the  older  houses 
and  building  establishments  in  the  town. 

Mr.  Wood  was  one  of  the  pall  -  bearers  for  the  burial  of  Mrs. 
Bowker,  the  first  person  to  be  buried  in  Drummer  Township 
Cemetery  in  1876. 

Mr.  Wood  was  married  to  Louisa  DuBois.  They  were  the 
parents  of  two  daughters,  the  elder  died  in  infancy.  Etta, 
aged  90,  lives  at  805  East  Jefferson  St.,  Bloomington,  111.  She 
walks  five  blocks  to  attend  Wesley  Methodist  Church.  Mrs. 
Wood  died  Dec.  1889;  Mr.  Wood  in  Dec.  1914. 


17 


Poterson  Greenhouse  and  Residence,  Gibson  City,  lU. 


THK    l{.    C.    I\\.   (illtSON    (  ITV.    IIXIXOIS — I'.A.AIOIS    lOK    <;<M)I)    K<)«H> 


>-,  '  ■»-^  "■"-..... 


B 
U 
S 
I 

N 
E 
S 
S 
E 
S 


AND 
INDUSTRY 


GIBSON  CITY  CANNING  FACTORY 


18 


McMILLEN    FEED    MILLS 
Gibson  City,   Illinois 


CENTRAL  SOYA  COMPANY 
AND  McMILLEN  FEED  MILLS 


The  Central  Soya  story  began  Oct.  2,  1934,  when  -  in  the 
midst  of  a  depression  --  Dale  W.  McMillen  at  the  age  of  54 
incorporated  the  Central  Soya  Company  to  process  soybeans 
for  oil  and  meal. 

On  Dec.  8,  1934,  the  first  shipment  of  soybean  oil  was  made 
from  the  small  plant  in  which  the  company  operated  in 
Decatur,  Indiana.  On  January  23.  1935,  McMillen  Feed  Mills, 
which  had  been  incorporated  as  the  feed  division  of  Central 
Soya,  received  its  first  order  for  feed  --  46,350  pounds  of 
mixed  feed. .  .  .  "Master  Mixing  Feed  -  30  percent  molasses." 

From  this  small  beginning,  the  company  grew  rapidly  and 
by  mid  -  summer  of  1939  plans  were  completed  for  the  con- 
struction of  soybean  processing,  feed  manufacturing  and 
grain  storage  facilities  at  Gibson  City,  Illinois. 

Construction  began  in  August,  1939,  and  was  completed  in 
October  of  that  year. 

Only  28  people  were  on  the  payroll  when  the  plant  opened. 
It  was  their  job  to  operate  a  facility  that  included  10  concrete 
silos  with  a  storage  capacity  of  a  million  bushels,  a  then  - 
modern  feed  mill  with  a  production  capacity  of  4,000  Ions  of 
feed  per  month,  and  an  expeller  -  type  soybean  processing 
operation  with  a  5,000  bushel  processing  capacity  per  day. 

The  little  company  continued  to  grow  and  by  (he  end  of  1942 
soybean  processing  capacity  at  Gibson  City  was  increased  to 
10.000  bushels  per  day,  while  storage  capacity  had  nearly 
doubled  lo  1,900,000  bushels. 

By  1945  an  average  of  233  persons  were  employed  at  the 
Gibson  City  plant  and  the  annual  payroll  was  estimated  at 
$400,000.  By  1949,  further  expansion  of  storage  capacity  had 
increased  total  storage  to  more  than  six  million  bushels  and 
employment  had  climbed  to  260  persons. 

Tcxlay.  storage  capacity  at  Gibson  City  is  6'^  million 
bushels,  soybean  processing  capacity  has  reached  27,500 
bushels  per  day.  and  the  feed  mill  has  a  rated  capacity  for  its 
two  continuous  feed  lines  of  an  800  tons  per  eight  -  hour  day. 

Approximately  250  people  are  now  employed  at  the  Gibson 
City  plant  and  the  annual  payroll  is  just  under  two  million 
dollars. 

The  growth  of  the  Gibson  City  plant  is  typical  of  other 
phases  of  Central  Soya  and  McMillen  Feed  Mills  operations. 

A  number  of  other  plants  have  been  acquired  or  built,  and 


warehouses  and  grain  merchandising  facilities  serv( 
customers. 

A  marine  department  operates  a  fleet  of  jumbo  rive 
barges  for  transporting  soybeans,  grains  and  other  fee( 
ingredients  on  the  inland  waterway  system. 

Over  the  years  the  company's  operations  have  beei 
greatly  diversified. 


Ppler  .Schertz  and  son  .lesso  operated  the  above 
business  from  IIKIT  to  l!l-.'i.  Ilenr>  llafipr  purchased  the 
lumber  yard  in  I!IL'.">.  and  was  later  joined  by  sons 
Douglas  and  Jim  in  the  l^.sn's. 


This  page  sponsored  by 
Central  Soya 


19 


ILLINOIS  BELL  TELEPHONE  COMPANY 


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20 


TELEPHONES 


The  telephone  was  a  bit  late  in  coming  to  Gibson  City. 

Located  in  the  heartland  of  Illinois  corn  country,  at  a 
considerable  distance  by  horse  -  and  -  buggy  from  any  of  the 
state's  larger  cities,  Gibson  City  folks  soon  realized  that  if 
they  ever  hoped  to  sec  one  of  those  new  -  fangled  talking 
instruments,  they  would  have  to  take  the  initiative  in 
sparking  the  interest  of  local  entrepreneurs  and  pulling 
together  some  financial  backing  of  their  own. 

Even  so.  it  was  only  20  years  or  so  after  the  Alexander 
Graham  Bell  invention  that  the  first  private  venture  got 
underway. 

George Schlosser,  a  local  man,  set  up  the  first  switchboard 
in  1898  and  began  selling  telephone  service.  The  operation, 
known  as  the  Central  Telephone  and  Telegraph  Co.,  appears 
to  have  been  a  partnership  involving  both  Gibson  City  and 
nearby  Paxton. 

Schlosser's  partner  on  the  Paxton  end  was  a  Mr.  Lankford. 
But  for  one  reason  or  another,  the  two  men  decided  to 
dissolve  their  partnership  after  two  years.  Schlosser  retained 
Gibson  City  and  Lankford  continued  to  operate  in  Paxton. 
Paxton. 

Despite  the  split,  the  prospects  for  a  profitable  business 
must  have  been  highly  encouraging.  In  1901,  Schlosser  talked 
two  other  men  --  A.  L.  Phillips  and  H.  A.  Ball  --  into  joining  his 
enterprise  and  they  capitalized  a  new  company  at  $12,000.  a 
handsome  sum  in  those  days.  Appropriately  enough,  they 
chose  the  name  Gibson  City  Telephone  Co. 
Within  a  year  the  new  company  built  a  two  -  story  and 
basement  building  at  the  corner  of  Eighth  and  Church  Streets 
to  house  their  growing  business.  The  building  would  serve  as 
the  community  telephone  office  for  the  next  60  years. 

Even  back  in  those  days  telephone  companies  required 
large  amounts  of  capital  for  construction  of  new  facilities.  As 
new  money  came  into  the  business,  companies  reorganized 
and  names  were  changed,  ."^nd  so  it  was  with  Gibson  City. 

A  few  months  after  movmg  into  the  new  telephone  office, 
the    company    changed    its    name    to    Granger's    Mutual 
Telephone  Co.,    apparently    representing   a    financial    in- 
vestment and  share  in  control  of  management  by  Paxton  . 
interests. 

Before  another  year  had  passed  the  name  was  changed 
once  again  --  to  the  Gibson  Home  Telephone  Co.  --  and  the 
surviving  organization  was  capitalized  at  $25,000.  With  new 
money  in  the  till,  Gibson  Home  purchased  the  entire  com- 
munity exchange  from  the  Paxton  Telephone  and  Telegraph 
Co.  And  for  the  first  time  Gibson  City  residents  were  no 
longer  faced  with  the  expense  of  having  to  order  telephones 
from  each  company  in  order  to  call  all  telephones  in  the 
community. 

In  the  early  days  the  Home  company  was  managed  by 
Schlosser  under  a  license  granted  by  Chicago's  Central 
Union  Telephone  Co..  the  operating  company  which  held  the 
Bell  telephone  patent. 

The  arrangement  with  Central  Union  permitted  Gibson 
City  customers  to  use  the  Bell  System  long  distance  Imes, 
thus  saving  the  local  company  the  prohibitive  costs  of 
building  a  separate  toll  network. 

Telephone  service  apparently  left  considerable  room  for 
improvement.  In  1909,  The  Mssrs.  D.  A.  Taylor,  W.  E.  Crowe 
and  W.  E.  Day,  all  of  Gibson  City,  formed  the  Drummers 
Telephone  Co.  and  entered  into  direct  competition  with  the 
Home  company. 

Old  newspaper  clippings  indicate  the  company  was 
comprised  primarily  of  local  farmers  who  were  dissatisfied 
with  the  Home  service. 

The  Drummers  company  negotiated  a  franchise  with  the 


Gibson  City  city  council  which  provided  for  free  calls  on  all 
lines  constructed  within  15  miles  of  the  city.  The  free  calling 
area  included  the  communities  of  Fisher,  Foosland. 
Bellflower,  Saybrook,  Sibley,  Melvin,  Guthrie  and  Elliott. 

The  telephone  business  was  highly  competitive  in  the  early 
1900s,  and  once  the  novelty  of  the  invention  faded  new 
business  was  hard  to  come  by.  Adopting  a  more  aggressive 
stance,  Chicago's  Central  Union  transferred  J.  F.  Stephens 
from  its  Springfield  district  to  manage  the  Gibson  City 
operation. 

Stephens  would  serve  as  manager  for  nearly  30  years  and, 
as  much  as  any  one  man,  is  credited  with  extending  and 
expanding  the  telephone  network  that  formed  the  basis  for 
the  system  serving  Gibson  City  today. 

Stephens  had  been  a  construction  crew  boss.  Ahead  lay  the 
job  of  building  the  hundreds  of  miles  of  cable,  wire  and  poles 
that  made  up  a  telephone  network.  Characteristically, 
Stephens  didn't  lose  any  time  in  getting  down  to  business. 

To  help  finance  the  construction  program  Sephens  in- 
creased rates  from  $2  a  month  to  $2.50.  and  boosted  the  local 
company's  capitalization  to  $50,000. 

While  monthly  rates  were  about  one  -  third  of  today's 
charge,  customers  could  only  reach  about  one  -  fiftieth  of  the 
telephones  accessible  now. 

Telephone  business  progressed  at  a  slow  but  measured 
pace  over  the  next  10  years.  In  1916,  the  number  of  Home 
Telephone  customers  stood  at  850.  The  Drummers  company 
appears  to  have  hit  on  hard  times,  however,  the  folded. 

Illinois  Bell  began  its  long  association  with  Gibson  City  in 
1924  with  purchase  of  the  assets  of  the  Gibson  Home  Com- 
pany. Records  show  the  Home  company  operated  744 
telephones,  and  provided  service  to  another  46  owned  by 
customers. 

The  February.  1925  issue  of  Illinois  Bell  Magazine,  in  in- 
troducing the  Gibson  City  exchange  to  employees,  described 
the  community  in  these  words: 

"Gibson  City  is  one  of  those  'downstate'  towns  that  has 
energy  enough  for  a  city  twice  its  size.  But  none  too  much  for 
Gibson.  They  know  how  to  use  it." 

The  words  turned  out  to  be  prophetic.  Three  months  after 
Illinois  Bell  assumed  control,  one  of  the  worst  sleet  storms  in 
modem  historv'  struck  central  Illinois,  toppling  thousands  of 
telephone  poles  and  virtually  isolating  Gibson  City  from 
communication  with  the  rest  of  the  world. 

Manager  Stephens  soon  discovered  just  how  much  energy 
there  was  in  Gibson  City. 

In  a  matter  of  hours  he  drew  together  an  emergency  force 
of  40  line  -  man  and  rented  a  number  of  automobiles  to  get  the 
men  out  into  the  field. 

Poles  and  lines  were  down  as  far  away  as  Bloomington  and 
Chenoa.  Despite  16  hour  work  days  and  a  repair  force  many 
times  over  the  normal  complement  of  men.  it  would  be 
nearly  a  week  before  local  service  was  restored.  Long 
distance  service  wasn't  fully  restored  until  mid  -  summer 
1925. 

So  much  fol  the  early  years  of  "the  coming  of  the  telephone 
to  Gibson  City." 

The  last  half  -  century  has  been  one  of  orderly  growth  and 
technological  innovation. 

Crank  -  type  wooden  telephones  began  disappearing  in  the 
1930s.  More  switching  equipment  was  added  to  handle  growth 
in  the  post  -  Word  War  II  years  and  the  community  converted 
to  local  and  long  distance  direct  dialing  in  1960.  Early  this 
year  Touch  -  Tone  calling  was  introduced. 

Much  of  the  credit  for  Gibson  City's  emergence  from 
"horse  -  and  -  buggy"  telephone  days  to  a  modern  1970s 


This  page  sponsored  by 
Hunt   Insurance  Agency,  Corn   Belt   Hatcheries  of   Illinois,   Inc./  Stokely   Van 
Camp,  Inc.,  and  I  and  B  Inn 


21 


system  belongs  to  W.  M  "Sparky"  Stiead,  a  life  -  long 
resident  and  Illinois  Bell's  manager  here  for  20  years. 

Sparky  and  his  predecessor.  J.  F  Sephenson,  stand  out  as 
the  two  most  influential  men  in  Gibson  City  telephone 
history.  Stephenson  brought  the  telephone  through  its  early 
development;  Snead  picked  up  where  Stepher.son  left  off  and 
forged  the  system  serving  the  community  today. 

What  do  the  next  50  years  hold'.'  The  only  limit  is  the  stretch 


of  the  imaguination.  Illinois  Bell,  looking  ahead  a  scant  15 
years,  confidentally  forsees  Gibson  City  with  see  ■  as  -  you  - 
talk  Picturephone  and  direct  distance  dialing  around  the 
world  with  calls  carried  via  satellites.  Everyday  business, 
such  as  banking  and  grocery  shopping,  will  be  done  by  Touch 
-  Tone  telephone  and  computers. 
After  that,  it's  anyone's  guess! 


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DeVVall  Seed  and  Implement  Co.  now  The  Corn  Belt 
Hatcheries, 


Early  Businesses 


Former  Bryant's  Drug  Store 


22 


This  page  sponsored  by 
First  National  Bank  in  Paxton 


[GIBSON  CITYj 


Two-Time  Winner  of  'Outstanding  Illinois  Weekly'  Award 


The  present  Gibson  City  Courier  is  a  descendant  of  two 
early  newspapers,  The  Gibson  Courier  and  The  Gibson  City 
Enterprise,  which  were  merged  in  1934. 

The  Courier  was  founded  in  May  1872  by  N.  E.  Stevens  of 
Paxton.  HesoiditNov.  1,  1873.  to  Walter  Hoge.  who  published 
the  newspaper  only  a  short  time  before  he.  in  turn,  sold  it  to 
Emanuel  Lowry.  who  moved  here  from  Eureka  and  took 
possession  March  1.  1875. 

E.  Lowry,  as  the  publisher  and  editor  referred  to  himself  in 
the  masthead,  was  active  for  25  years.  Then  The  Courier 
passed  on  to  brothers  C,  E.  and  J.  P.  Lowry,  Emanuel's  sons, 
who  jointly  published  the  newspaper  for  35  years. 

The  Enterprise  was  founded  in  1883  by  P.  A.  Coal,  well 
known  in  Republican  circles  throughout  the  state,  and  at  one 
time  postmaster  of  Gibson  City.  During  the  Nineties,  Coal 
published  a  daily  edition,  which  was  finally  discontinued,  and 
the  newspaper  reverted  to  weekly  publication,  because  the 
town  wasn't  large  enough  to  support  a  daily  paper. 

In  1904  the  Enterprise  was  purchased  by  Woolley  Brothers 
of  Saybrook,  and  George  A.  Woolley  assumed  active  direc- 
tion by  moving  here,  and  remaining  its  head  for  thirty  years. 
About  1924  George  bought  out  his  brothers  and  became  sole 
owner  His  son.  John,  grew  up  in  the  business  and  joined  his 
father  as  an  assistant  after  he  graduated  from  Drummer 
Township  High  School. 

The  two  newspapers  were  merged  on  Saturday,  May  12, 


1934.  and  the  first  combined  issued  was  published  May  17  of 
that  year,  as  "The  Gibson  Courier  and  Gibson  City  En- 
terprise." 

The  two  printing  plants  were  combined,  and  mailing  lists 
merged,  with  a  total  circulation  at  that  time  of  2,025.  George 
Woolley  acquired  stock  in  the  Gibson  Courier  Printing 
Company,  and  with  his  son  John  joined  the  organization  with 
C.  E.  and  J.  P.  Lowry. 

Later  John  Woolley  assumed  the  ownership. 

On  Nov.  1.  1949.  John  Woolley  sold  the  newspaper,  known 
as  The  Gibson  City  Courier,  to  Verle  V.  Kramer,  then  of 
Warsaw.  111.,  and  his  two  sons,  Donovan  and  David.  At  that 
time  the  Kramers  owned  the  Fairbury  Blade  and  Forrest 
News,  and  Donovan  was  in  active  charge  of  that  operation. 
Verle  sold  his  Warsaw  Bulletin  and  moved  to  Gibson  City  to 
lake  charge  of  the  Courier.  In  the  early  1960s  the  Fairbury 
and  Forrest  newspapers  were  sold,  and  Donovan  bought  a 
newspaper  in  Casa  Grande.  Ariz.  His  interest  as  a  partner 
was  acquired  by  Verle  and  David  Kramer,  who  operated  as  a 
partnership  until  the  death  of  Verle  Kramer  Nov.  3.  1968.  At 
that  time,  and  now  the  Kramers  published  newspapers  in 
Saybrook.  Colfax.  LeRoy,  Chenoa  and  Lexington,  and  the  two 
Monticello  newspapers,  merged  as  the  Piatt  County  Journal  - 
Republican. 

Kramer  Publishing  Company  is  a  partnership  operation, 
with  Mrs.  Verle  Kramer  and  David  Kramer  as  the  owners. 
The  Bement  Register  was  acquired  in  1970. 


\  KHI.K  KHAMKK 
I!»05-I!M;x 

This  page  sponsored  by 
Kramer  Publishing  Co. 


23 


(ilBSON  FKDERAl,  SAVINGS 
AND  LOAN  ASSOCIATION 

fJibson  Federal  Savings  and  Loan  Association  was  founded 
.June  18,  188:1.  88  years  ago  It  was  organized  by  ten  pioneer 
businessmen,  T.  D,  SpaFding  was  the  first  President  and  L,  E, 
Ki>tkwor)d  was  the  first  Secretary.  The  nanne  of  Gibson 
Savings  and  Building  Association  was  chosen  and  was 
organized  under  a  State  Charter,  In  1936  the  association  was 
chiinged  to  a  Federal  Charter  and  the  name  was  changed  to 
(Jibson  Federal  Savings  and  Loan  Association,  The  office 
ihen  was  located  at  127  N,  Sangamon  which  is  now  part  of  the 
Ace  Hardware  Store,  In  September.  1960.  we  moved  into  our 
new  building  located  at  402  N.  Sangamon.  We  have  enjoyed  a 
very  good  business  and  as  of  now  our  assets  are  over  35 
million. 


I.AMBFINKKALIIOME 

"Old  Timers"  in  the  Gibson  City  area  may  recall  the 
beautiful  team  pictured  here  -  and  some  may  even  remember 
their  names  as  "Doc"  and  "George".  This  represents  a  small 
part  of  the  equipment  that  has  been  used  through  the  years 
by  W.S  Lamb  &  Co.  in  serving  Gibson  City. 

W  S.  Lamb  came  to  our  town  in  1887,  and  became  a  fur- 
niture merchant.  "Undertaking"  was  a  specialty  sideline  in 
those  days  After  his  death  in  1917,  the  business  was  con- 
tinued by  his  son  Shum  Lamb,  and  it  was  he  who  built  the 
present  funeral  home  in  1937  Following  World  War  II,  the 
third  generation  of  Lamb  Funeral  Service  continued  with  the 
management  of  Jack  and  Wally  Lamb. 

We  are  still  grateful  that  Grandfather  found  such  a  good 
town  as  Gibson  City  to  establish  his  business  -  and  we  pledge 
continuing  good  service  to  those  that  call  on  us  in  their  time 
of  need. 

Wally  Lamb 

Bob  Deener 

Earl  Young 

Miss  Lelia  Gender 


^JlLiiL 


01650", 


FIRST  NATIONAL  BANK  AND  TRUST  COMPANY 
IN  GIBSON  CITY 

The  original  beginning  of  the  First  National  Bank  and 
Trust  Company  in  Gibson  City,  Gibson  City,  Illinois,  a 
leading  institution,  was  in  the  year  1867. 

Old  newspapers  and  reports,  no  longer  available,  show  that 
A.  J.  Montelius  entered  into  the  private  banking  busmess  in 
Piper  City,  Illinois,  in  conjunction  with  another  enterprise. 

At  some  future  date,  (actual  date  unknowm,  this  banking 
company  was  chartered  as  a  State  Bank. 

In  1900,  under  new  ownership.  National  BanK  Charter  No. 
,5322  was  awarded,  and  the  title  was  changed  to  the  "First 
National  Bank  of  Piper  City". 

In  the  1941  the  old  "First  National  Bank  of  Gibson  City" 
was  liquidated  and  the  First  National  Bank  of  Piper  City, 
under  Charter  No.  5322,  was  moved  to  Gibson  City,  and  the 
name  changed  to  "First  National  Bank  in  Gibson  City". 

In  June  1959  the  bank  moved  from  134  North  Sangamon 
Avenue,  to  its  present  location  at  119  North  Church  Street,  in 
Gibson  City. 

Under  this  title  the  bank  flourished  and  grew  with  the 
community  until  June  1968,  when  the  present  management 
applied  for  and  received  a  change  in  title  to  "First  National 
Bank  and  Trust  Company  in  Gibson  City". 


This  page  sponsored  by 
Gibson  Federal  Savings  and  Loan  Association,  Gibson  City,  Illinois 


24 


M  &  WGEAR  COMPANY 


Nearly  25  years  ago,  Elmo  Meiners.  an  Anchor.  Illinois 
farmer,  got  tired  of  nursing  his  tractors  through  a  hard  day's 
work.  He  and  a  friend  converted  an  abandoned  school  house 
into  a  shop  and  pioneered  an  overdrive  transmission  that 
would  give  his  tractor  four  more  field  speeds.  The  results 
were  so  good  that  neighbors  and  friends  began  clamoring  for 
a  gear  set  for  their  tractors. 

In  1949,  the  M  &  W  Gear  Company  was  organized.  Until 
1951,  operations  continued  in  the  old  school  building  about 
four  miles  southeast  of  Anchor.  The  company  then  moved 
into  Anchor  where  its  headquarters  remained  until  1966. 

M  &  W  made  its  first  appearance  in  Gibson  City  in  August, 
1956  with  the  acquistion  of  the  Monnie  Wagonseller  garage  at 
523  S.  Sangamon.  M  &  W's  first  manufacturing  operations 
started  there.  In  1964,  work  began  on  the  present  plant  on  an 
80  acre  tract  at  the  south  edge  of  Gibson  City.  In  Sept.,  1965. 
the  nearly  completed  plant  was  hit  by  a  tornado  that  delayed 
occupancy  for  six  months.  It  was  March.  1966  before  M  &  W 
completed  the  move  into  its  new  quarters.  In  the  next  four 
years,  the  original  officeand  factory  structure  increased  to  a 
complex  of  nine  modern  buildings  with  a  total  floor  space  of 
oyer  200,000  square  feet. 

M  &  W's  entry  into  large  scale  manufacturing  was 
simultaneous  w^ith  the  move  into  its  new  plant.  Previously,  M 
&  W  had  concentrated  on  "after  -  market"  products;  ac- 
cessories designed  to  improve  the  performance  or  cut  the 
cost  of  operating  farm  equipment  manufactured  by  other 
companies.  Prominent  among  these  were  pistons  and 
sleeves,  turbochargers  and  dual  wheels  for  tractors;  an 
automatic  header  control  for  combines  and  an  improved 
rolling  coulter  assembly  for  plows.  Now.  the  M  &  W  Little 
Red  Wagon  is  probably  the  best  known  farm  wagon,  the  M  & 
W  Perfect  Kern'l  Dryer,  the  most  advanced  grain  dryer.  M  & 
W  is  now  in  the  process  of  introducing  its  own  heavy  duty, 
automatic  hydraulic  reset  plow. 


The  board  of  directors  is  made  up  of  Elmo  Meiners, 
pres.;  La  Verne  Meiners,  vice-pres.;  J.  C.  Ertel  III  of 
Indianapolis,  secretary  -  treasurer  and  J.  P.  Hawkins, 
assistant  secretary.  In  addition  to  the  main  office  and  plant 
at  Gibson  City,  the  company  also  has  offices  and  warehouses 
at  Memphis.  Tenn.  and  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

Present  employment  is  230. 


This  page  sponsored  by 
M  &  W  Gear  Company 


25 


GIBS<»\  IKON  WORKS 


The  Gibson  Iron  Works  was  incorporated  July  12.  1893  for 
the  period  of  20  vears;  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  Iron 
Novelties.  Hot  Water  Radiators.  Castings  of  Gray  Iron; 
general  foundry  and  machine  business. 

The  capital  stock  of  this  corporation  was  S.iO.OOO;  500 
shares  at  SlOO  per  share.  There  was  a  board  of  5  Directors 
who  were  elected  by  the  stockholders  at  the  annual  meeting 
for  the  term  of  2  vears  They  received  SI. 00  for  each  regular 
meeting  attended.  President  T  R.  Wiley.  E.  H  Harry. 
Secretary.  J.  W.  Haines.  R.  A.  McClure.  J.  D.  Mellinger  The 
machine  shop  was  built  this  year  and  the  first  shipment  of 
machinerv  was  made  January  1.  1894  and  60  days  was  given 
for  payment  to  be  made.  On  October  25.  1895  J.  D.  Mellinger 
was  elected  President.  J  W  Haines.  Vice  Pres..  Al  Phillips. 
Treas..  E  H.  Harry.  Secretary.  R.  A.  McClure.  Director. 

Aprii  9.  1901  there  were  24  stockholders  and  7  board 
members.  In  1905  the  plant  was  offered  for  sale  for  the  sum  of 
S20.000  or  rent  for  $1200  yearly  rent.  But  no  deal  was  made. 
Bv  1912  things  were  looking  up  a  little  and  a  dividend  of  S2.00 
per  share  was  declared;  in  1918  things  were  still  better;  they 
raised  salaries  and  declared  an  $8.00  per  share  dividend. 

In  1920  the  Gibson  Iron  Works  was  sold  to  J.  T.  Reedy  and 
John  V.  Anderson.  Chicago.  New  officers  being  J.  T.  Reedy. 
President.  John  V.  Anderson.  Vice  Pres..  James  Hutchings, 
Treas.  and  Secretary.  They  carried  on  the  same  type  of 
business  as  the  original  owners.  His  son  Stewart  Anderson 
worked  in  the  foundry  for  some  time  and  learned  the  trade. 
The  depression  came  along  and  in  the  early  thirties  the 
Gibson  Iron  Works  went  out  of  business. 

John  V.  Anderson  then  opened  a  small  machine  shop  of  his 
own  and  operated  it  until  sometime  in  1956  when  he  was 
forced  to  retire  because  of  ill  health. 


Dr.   W.    D.    Hoover 
Middleton). 


and   daughter    (now    Mrs.   Sibyl 


»•»> 


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ATTORNEYS 

The  Cit>^  of  Gibson  was  late  in  attracting  attorneys  in  as 
much  as  it  was  not  the  county  seat  of  Ford  County.  The  first 
attorney  to  open  a  law  office  in  Gibson  was  C.  H.  Yoemans 
who  began  his  practice  in  July  of  1871.  Mr.  Yoemans  was  also 
the  first  city  attorney.  He  was  joined  in  1883  by  A.  L.  Phillips. 
Mr.  Yoemans  left  the  practice  in  1884. 

Mr.  Phillips  was  elected  States  Attorney  April  1.  1892  and 
served  two  years.  He  also  served  one  year  in  the  State 
Legislature.  Mr.  Phillips  practiced  alone  until  he  was  joined 
by  Claude  M.  Swanson  in  1916.  Mr.  Swanson  was  inducted 
into  service  and  later  when  he  returned  from  service  opened 
an  office  in  Paxton.  In  January  of  1913  0.  R.  Middleton  and 
Frank  Shawl,  fresh  from  law  school,  also  opened  an  office  in 
this  city.  Frank  Shawl  later  left  and  O.  R.  Middleton  prac- 
ticed alone  until  he  joined  A.  L.  Phillips  after  Mr.  Swansons 
departure  to  service.  Mr.  Phillips  retired  and  O.  R.  Mid- 
dleton practiced  alone  until  joined  by  Sibyl  H.  Middleton  in 
1930.  The  office  later  became  known  as  Middleton  &  Mid- 
dleton and  has  since  been  joined  by  William  S.  Middleton  in 
1939  and  Margaret  R.  Middleton  in  1961. 

In  1883  Samuel  P.  Rady  opened  an  office  and  practiced 
until  his  death.  Sometime  in  the  1890's  L.  A.  Cranston  opened 
a  law  office  and  was  active  in  practice  until  he  moved  to 
Danville  in  1907. 

July  1,  1933,  Lindley.  Pacey  and  Johnson  estaonsnea  an 
office  in  Gibson  City.  The  office  remained  until  November  23. 
1941 .  when  it  became  known  as  Lindley.  Pacey  &  Pacey. 

It  remained  this  way  until  June  29.  1944.  at  the  death  of  Mr. 
Lindley.  Office  then  closed  completely  in  Gibson  Citv. 

Of  the  later  attorneys  Judge  Frank  Lindley  of  Lindley, 
Pacey  and  Johnson  of  Paxton.  Illinois,  opened  an  office  after 
his  retirement  from  the  bench  and  practiced  in  Gibson  City 
until  his  death  in  1944. 

In  early  1945  Charles  E.  Carnahan  opened  a  law  office  and 
had  an  active  practice  until  his  death.  In  1946  E  P.  Sawyer 
also  opened  an  office  and  practiced  until  his  death.  The  latest 
office  this  city  has  now  has  been  opened  by  Arthur  R.  Benz. 


26 


This  page  sponsored  by 
Henry  Hager  Lumber  Company 


J.  B.  Palmer  (irocerv  Store  in  1^1"    The  site  is  now 
Cornie's  Shoe  Store. 


Barkow's  General  Store  \r.  I'^i:;.  The  store  was  located 
on  the  northwest  corner  of  sth  St.  and  Sangamon,  the 
present  location  of  Coast  to  Coast  south  half'.  Pic- 
tured left  to  risiht  are  Mrs  Freddie  Rarkow.  >la(thew 
Barkow.  Tomm\   Barr  and  Lester  Torrenoe. 


lirUMBERCP 


fc.OmA*^*^.   ^^-JiS^JIl.      rk^-\t«^.*     tmA^ar^ 


Spaulding  Lumber 


The  Kair 


This  page  sponsored  by 
G  &  W  Supermarket,  Van's  Photo  Supplies  and  Van's  Insurance  Agency 


27 


Iliinl's  (olisj-iim  was  moved  by  Khodeses  in  the  full  of   lli:!(i  (o  the  location  of  the  former 
Kentland  I)air\    (just  south  of  KiA). 

RHODES  HOUSEMOVING  SERVICE 


About  1890  J.  S.  Rhodes  and  family  moved  to  Gibson  City 
from  LeRoy,  111.  Soon  Mr.  Rhodes  became  engaged  in  the 
house  moving  business.  A  short  time  later  he  took  on  a 
partner  in  the  business,  Sid  Simmons.  They  had  horses, 
mules  and  early  in  their  history,  had  a  team  of  oxen  to  do  the 
pulling  jobs. 

In  1904  after  J.  W.  Rhodes  came  back  from  the  Spanish  - 
American  War,  he  spent  2  years  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.  moving 
and  raising  buildings.  He  sold  out  and  came  back  to  Gibson 
City.  In  1906,  J.  W.  Rhodes  bought  out  his  father  and  his 


partner  and  started  in  business  for  himself. 

In  1946,  J.  W.  retired  from  active  business  and  turned  the 
work  over  to  his  two  sons,  Virgil  J.  Rhodes  and  Harold  W. 
Rhodes  who  are  still  active  in  the  work. 

Both  Virgil  and  Harold  have  sons  who  have  done  this  work 
and  grandsons  who  are  still  in  high  school  that  have  helped 
through  the  summer  at  the  work  of  raising  and  moving 
buildings. 

This  makes  five  generations  of  the  Rhodes  family  that  have 
been  house  movers. 


■*•.'..  .:-  t^rfjr 


■'-.A   _ 


This  page  sponsored  by 
Shaffer  Spring  Co.,  Schockeys   Dept.  Store,   Perfect   Potato   Chips,    Inc.,  and 
Wrenn's  Sunnyacre  Farms,  Inc. 


28 


lUelcome  to 


Rich  Soil      Strong  Industry 

GIBSON      CITY      CHAMBER        OF      COAAMERCE 


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(  ITY 
I  Note:  Many  layers  of  dust  were  removed  from  records  to         i  Margaret)   Anderson.  City  Clerk,  for  the  hours  she  spent 


uncover  the  items  below  regarding  the  early  history  of  the 
\lllage    of    (iibson.     A    special    thanks    to     Mrs.     .Stewart 

In  1869  the  town  site  was  purchased  by  Civil  War  veteran 
.Jdnalhan  B  Lolt  from  Jesse  B.  Whitehead  of  Chicago.  The 
land  was  surveyed  in  February  18/0  for  a  mile  square. 

Mr.  Lott  built  his  home  here  and  Gibson  City  had  its  in- 
ception. Lott's  wife,  the  former  Marearet  A  Gibson,  whom 
he  married  in  18fi7,  was  remembered  by  her  husband  when 
the  town  was  named  "Gibson".  In  making  application  for  a 
post  office  in  that  name,  the  department  added  the  word 
"City"  to  the  original  name  because  of  the  confusion  with  the 
town  of  Gilson,  III. 


The  village  was  incorporated  in  1872  T.  D.  Spalding.  J  H. 
Collier,  S.  J.  LeFevre.  Bruce  McCormick  and  W.  T.  Kerr 
were  trustees,  with  Spalding  serving  as  president.  Later, 
Spalding  served  as  the  city's  first  mayor. 

The  trustees  were  sworn  in  on  June  10,  1872  by  Bruce 
McCormick,  Justice  of  the  Peace  In  the  minutes  of  the 
meeting,  S  J  LeFevre  moved  that  the  corporate  limits  of 
Gibson  would  Include  all  of  Section  11,  Town  23,  Range  7, 
East  of  the  3rd  Principal  Meridian,  Ford  County,  111. 

LeFevre  was  elected  treasurer;  Milton  D.  Worrell,  con- 
stable, street  supervisor  and  town  collector. 

At  that  meeting,  A.  S.  Guthrie  was  authorized  to  contract 
for  having  Sangamon  Ave  graded  up  for  a  distance  of  one  - 
half  mile  south  of  Gibson  A  committee  of  two.  Collier  and 
.McCormick,  were  appointed  to  establish  rates  of  licenses  and 
decide  what  businesses  should  be  licensed. 


License  fees  for  a  year  were  established  as  follows,  livery 
stable,  $20;  drayman,  $5;  billiard  hall,  $20;  and  butchers,  $10. 

A  tax  of  $1  per  head  was  assessed  on  all  owners  of  dogs.  A 
new  dog  would  be  taxed  $2. 


JUNE  1872  -  What  was  then  known  as  Third  St.  was 
scheduled  for  grading  2'^  blocks  east  from  what  was  then 
Erie  St.  and  two  culverts  installed.  A  poll  tax  of  $2  per  day  for 
three  days  was  levied.  Compensation  for  draymen  hauling 
within  the  corporate  limited  was  set  at  25  cents  per  load. 

The  street  commissioner's  salary  was  fixed  at  $2.50  per 
day  worked.  Licenses  for  shows  were  $5  and  each  side  show 
$3  each  for  2  shows  each;  auctioneer's  license  was  $10  a  year; 
peddlers  $2  for  two  weeks  or  $3  for  one  month  and  $2  a  month 
thereafter. 


The  first  wooden  sidewalks  were  built  in  1872.  They  were 
constructed  of  one  inch  lumber  with  three  stringers  2x6  inch, 
one  foot  wide  and  running  lengthwise  and  were  18  inches  off 
the  ground. 


Application  was  made  for  the  first  beer  license  on  July  8, 
1872.  No  action  was  taken  by  the  trustees. 


The  first  sidewalk  ordinance  was  adopted  July  23,  1872. 
Another  ordinance  adopted  the  same  date  prohibitied  trains 
blocking  railroad  crossings  for  more  than  15  minutes  at  any 
one  time,  (note:  Later  amended  to  five  minutes.) 


JULY  29,  1872  -  A  petition  was  presented  by  32  voters 
requesting  the  president  and  board  to  call  an  election  for  the 
purpose  of  voting  for  or  against  incorporation  under  the  act 
of  the  Legislation  approved  April  19,  1872.  The  election  was 
posted  for  August  19,  1872,  to  be  held  at  Ring  and  Collier 
Hardware  Store.  Twenty  -  five  votes  were  cast  in  the  election. 
All  voted  for  incorporation. 

In  other  action  on   July  29,  1872,  a  license  and  ordinance 


doing  the  research.) 


was  adopted  granting  drug  stores  and  druggists  licenses  "to 
sell  liquors  for  medicinal  and  sacramental  purposes  on  the 
prescription  of  a  regarded  practicing  physician."  They  were 
required  to  keep  a  register  of  such  prescriptions.  Violaters 
would  be  fined  $25  and  imprisoned  until  such  time  as  fine 
was  paid  i  not  to  exceed  6  months  for  any  one  violation). 


Dogs  running  loose  presented  a  problem  then  as  they  do 
now  lOtf  years  later.  A  motion  was  made  and  adopted  that  all 
dogs  found  running  at  large  within  the  corporate  limits 
without  being  muzzled  "are  hereby  declared  a  nuisance  and 
that  any  person  finding  such  dogs  running  at  large  be 
authorized  to  kill  them." 


Charles  H.  Yeomans  was  employed  as  corporation  at- 
torney August  19,  1872.  In  other  action,  a  bill  for  digging  the 
first  well  was  presented  for  $17  -  but  trustees  would  only 
allow  $15. 


ORDINANCE  NO.   1  of  the  city  was  for  sidewalk  con- 
struction. 


AUGUST  28,  1872  -  The  amount  of  $500  was  set  for  general 
taxation  for  village  purposes.  (Note:  By  1878,  the  tax  levy 
was  $8000.) 


IN  1873,  the  poll  tax  was  raised  to  $4  for  three  days  work. 


The  clerk's  salary  was  $50  a  year  if  ordinances  were 
published  -  $70  if  they  were  written  and  posted.  The  street 
commissioner  got  $2.50  per  day.  His  duties  included  in- 
specting all  chimneys  and  flues  in  the  village  and  order  such 
repai  red  if  needed  as  well  as  remove  all  combustible  rubbish. 


Committees  were  named  for  Fire  and  Water,  Streets  and 
Alleys,  as  well  as  a  Fire  Marshall  back  in  those  days  -  just  as 

we  do  now. 


The  problems  of  sidewalks  seemed  to  come  up  at  almost 
every  meeting.  Each  person  had  to  apply  for  a  permit  to 
construct  a  walk  by  his  home  or  place  of  business.  Each  was 
acted  on  by  the  trustees. 


IN  1874  the  clerk's  salary  was  lowered  to  $40  a  year.  The 
street  commissioner's  salary  was  reduced  to  $2  per  day. 
Clerks  and  judges  at  elections  received  $2.  C.  H.  Yeomans, 
city  attorney,  received  one  -  half  the  fines  collected  as  his 
pay.  That  year  the  city  had  a  street  scraper  constructed.  The 
appropriation  ordinance  was  $1300.  A  tax  of  $1200  was  levied 
on  the  town. 


AN  ORDINANCE  was  passed  prohibiting  firecrackers. 


IN  1875  -  the  poll  tax  was  $3  for  three  days  work.  All  people 
conducting  a  permanent  business  were  required  to  pay  a 
license  fee  fixed  by  the  trustees.  An  ordinance  was  passed 
August  2,  1875,  closing  business  houses  on  Sundays,  with  the 
exception  of  drug  stores.  The  fine  for  violation  was  $100. 


Water  was  first  supplied  by  use  of  a  wind  mill.  In  Sep- 
tember 1875,  the  shaft  was  ordered  removed  from  the  wind 
mill  and  the  well  in  front  of  Union  Hall  was  put  in  good  order 
and  a  pump  was  purchased. 


The  problem  with  railroads  in  regard  to  keeping  up  their 


This  page  sponsored  by 
City  of  Gibson 


30 


crossings  in  the  village  was  the  topic  at  many  meetings. 
Even  in  1971.  the  city  council  has  this  topic  on  its  agenda 
many  times. 


meeting. 


APRIL  18,  I87fi  -  Another  liquor  ordinance  was  drawn  up 
for  the  sale  of  "malt  and  vinous  liquors"  and  the  fee  was 
fixed  at  $1000  per  year. 


OCTOBER  9, 1876  -  J.  D.  Mellinger's  Addition  was  annexed 
to  the  city  There  were  three  liquor  licenses  in  force  at  that 
time.  These  people  asked  that  the  fee  be  reduced,  but  it  was 
denied. 


JANUARY  2.  1877  -  A  committee  was  appointed  to  produce 
street  lamps.  On  February  12.  1877,  the  committee  on  lamps 
reported  to  the  trustees  and  were  ordered  to  purchase  10 
lamps  for  the  town. 


The  first  board  of  health  was  appointed  Dec.  23,  1881. 


OCTOBER  28.  1889  ■  A  committee  was  appointed  to  in- 
vestigate electric  lights  for  the  town.  Committee  named  were 
Worrell,  Rockwood  and  Ross. 


NOVEMBER  11, 1889  ■  Electric  lights  were  installed  with  a 
2  -  mile  circuit  for  $1500.  On  the  same  date  bids  were  taken  for 
printing  city  reports,  etc.  E.  Lowery  bid  3  cents  per  line  or  $12 
per  year ;  P.  A.  Coal  of  the  Enterprise  bid  2  cents  per  line,  for 
treasurer's  report  24  cents  per  100  words.  Coal's  bid  was 
accepted. 


AUGUST  23,  1894  -  Ordinance  was  passed  for  construction 
of  water  works  and  bonds  issued  in  the  amount  of  $7800  -  rate 
was  5  percent,  20  -  year  maturity,  $1000  each. 


APRIL  24,  1894  -  Ordinance  passed  changed  name  of  the 
town  from  Village  of  Gibson  to  that  of  a  city  under  the 
general  incorporation  act  of  the  State  of  Illinois  in  regard  to 
cities  and  village  in  force  July  1,  1872.  The  ordinance 
specified  that  the  government  consist  of  a  mayor,  six 
aldermen,  a  city  clerk,  a  city  treasurer  and  a  city  attorney. 
This  was  passed  and  printed  in  Gibson  Enterprise  May  24, 
1894. 


JULY  30,  1895  -  The  city  was  divided  into  three  wards 
(there  arc  now  4  wards).  At  that  date  most  old  ordinances 
were  cancelled  and  new  ones  written.  A  new  seal  was  pur- 
chased and  license  fees  revised. 


MAY  29,  1899  -  First  brick  sidewalk  ordinance  was  passed. 


An  ordinance  for  concrete  sidewalks  was  passed  on  May  10. 
1904.  Streets  were  re  -  numbered  north  and  from  center  of 
Lake  Erie  &  Western  Railroad  south  from  same  point. 


In  1903  Dix  Telephone  Co.  came  to  Gibson  City  with 
telephone  service.  In  1904  Gibson  Home  Telephone  Co. 
replaced  them. 

JULY  24,  1906  -  First  fire  department  under  city  super- 
\-ision  was  organized. 


Members  of  the  new  fire  company  named  on  August  28, 
1906  were  George  Woolley,  Ford  Curtis.  Steve  Huffman, 
(assistant  chief).  Will  Kashner.  George  Offner  (treasurer) 
Ike  McLaughlin  (captain  Hose  Co  No.  1).  Jno.  Robbins.  A! 
Mix.  Chief  Morris  Emmons.  Will  Bolton  and  John  Smith. 
Constitution  and  by  -  laws  adopted  for  their  regulation  at  this 


On  September  1 1 ,  1906  the  following  names  were  submitted 
and  accepted  for  membership  in  the  volunteer  fire  depart- 
ment: Lawrence  Fitzhenry,  N.  Mitchell,  Ed  Phares,  Ed 
Ashley,  Henry  Rick,  Alf  Jennings  (Capt.  Hose  Co.  No.  2t  and 
Charles  Clark  (secretary).  Later  on  March  12.  1907.  the 
following  names  were  added  to  the  department:  Bryan 
Emmons,  Ross  Connors,  Charles  Ashly,  Bart  Wright  and 
Claud  Simmons. 


On  April  30,  1907,  a  motion  was  passed  to  construct  a  tennis 
court  in  the  city  park.  It  would  be  located  at  the  southside  or 
southeast  corner  of  the    park. 


JUNE  11.  1907  -  Noble  Bros,  were  granted  permission  to 
build  a  2  -  story  addition  of  galvanized  iron  to  their  building 
on  North  Sangamon.  The  elevator  still  stands  at  this  location. 


SEPTEMBER  10. 1907  -  George  Wood  was  appointed  street 
commissioner  The  State  Board  of  Health  requested  that  the 
pond  in  the  park  be  drained.  A  drainage  district  was  talked 
about  but  not  enough  people  signed  the  petition,  therefore, 
the  city  had  to  proceed  to  do  this  job. 


FIRST  WATER  METERS  -  Ordinance  passed  August  13. 
1907.  effective  Jan.  1.  1908.  The  meters  were  provided  by 
consumer  according  to  city  specifications.  They  were  also 
purchased  through  the  city.  First  water  rates  were  2  cents 
per  100  gallons  or  a  minimum  bill  of  $2  per  term  of  six 
months  All  meters  were  turned  over  to  the  city  by  the  con- 
sumers in  1930  as  so  many  were  in  need  of  extensive  repair. 


On  and  after  August  1.  1909.  the  water  rates  or  water  taxes 
were  collected  quarterly,  falling  due  the  first  day  of  the 
following  months:  April.  July.  October  and  January. 
Quarterly  rates  for  water  used  was  set. 


J  S.  Robbins  applied  for  the  first  bowling  license  on 
December  28,  1909.  Eighty  -  two  people  signed  a  petition 
asking  for  a  bowling  alley.  The  application  was  denied. 


ON  MARCH  6.  1911.  the  following  action  was  taken: 
"Whereas  William  Moyer  did  on  the  13th  day  of  February. 
1911,  donate  to  the  city  of  Gibson  $14,000  with  which  to  pur- 
chase a  site  for  and  erect  a  free  public  library  building  for 
use  and  benefit  of  the  City  of  Gibson  (such  library  to  be 
known  as  the  William  Moyer  Library),  the  following  board  of 
directors  for  the  new  library  were  appointed  by  Mayor  Hi 
Arrowsmith:  S.  J.  LeFevre,  Evan  Mattinson,  C.  E.  Lowery, 
J.  Y  Shamel,  W  H.  Simms.  Honorable  J.  H  Collier.  L.  E. 
Rockwood.  J.  W.  McCall  and  Honorable  A  L.  Phillips." 


JUNE  2.5.  1912  -  Marshall  Stephens  reported  complaints  of 
a  dog  poisoner  being  around. 


SEPT.  22.  1914  -  The  pot  belly  stove  gave  way  to  furnace 
heat  in  the  city  hall. 


1916  -  The  Wilkinson  building  was  built. 


LotI  Boulevard  was  paved  in  1922.  Originally  named  Lott 
Sired,  it  was  rename(i  in  April.  1923. 


Mayor  and  commission  type  of  government  was  adopted 
Mav  7.  1923 


The  pavilion  in  ihe  north  park  was  originally  owned  by  the 


31 


Chalauqua  Association.  They  gave  it  to  the  city  by  resolution 
on  Septennber  24,  1929.  for  the  indebtedness  of  $250 


Cars  once  parked  in  the  middle  of  Sangamon  Ave  This  was 
changed  to  side  parking  m  October  19'!0 

Parking  meters  (235  of  themi  were  installed  in  the  fall  of 
1949.  During  the  first  few  years  this  revenue  supported  the 
police  department 

The  sewage  disposal  plant  was  built  in  1953  -  54  at  a  total 
cost  of  $183,671  32,  plus  cost  of  land  which  was  $8,000. 


CITY  PARKS 


former  owner  of  the  Gibson  Iron  Works  and  Anderson 
Welding  and  Machine  Shop  located  on  East  8th  St 

The  large  oil  painting  of  a  stag  which  hangs  in  the  council 
room  was  presented  to  the  city  shortly  after  completion  of  the 
new  building  by  Frank  Hunt,  jr  The  painting  originally  hung 
m  what  was  known  as  the  Lotus  Club  in  the  early  days  of  the 
citv 

During  the  winter  of  1970  and  spring  of  1971,  the  old  fire 
station  was  remodeled  into  a  new  council  room  and  an  office 
tor  I  he  mayor  The  former  council  room  will  be  the  new  city 
clerk's  office  and  the  police  department  will  be  located  in  the 
former  city  clerk's  office. 

The  tire  department  is  now  located  in  the  "old  Royal 
building"  connected  to  the  city  building  on  the  east.  The  city 
purchased  I  his  building  several  years  ago. 


MELLINGER'S  PARK  (commonly  called  the  north  park) 
was  given  to  the  city  by  J.  D.  Mellinger  in  1905.  He  was  an 
early  settler  in  Gibson  City.  Fireplaces  were  placed  in  this 
park  first  in  May,  1924. 

LeFEVRE  PARK,  located  just  north  of  "the  United 
Methodist  Church,  was  created  by  Ordinance  No.  1020  on 
March  13.  1917. 

ARROWSMITH  PARK  (known  as  the  south  park)  was 
given  to  the  city  in  August  1925  by  H.  P.  Arrowsmith. 

LOWRY  PARK  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  city  was 
given  to  the  city  by  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Lowry  Elkin  in  the  fall  of 
1%7  to  be  used  as  a  playground  for  children. 


CITY  HALL  HISTORY 

The  first  city  hall  was  located  on  the  south  half  of  Lot  3, 
Block  11.  Original  Town  of  Gibson  (where  the  vacant  First 
National  Bank  parking  lot  is  now  located).  The  building  was  * 
constructed  in  1873. 

Behind  it  stood  the  old  frame  jail  house  built  in  1874  by  Jens 
Rasmussen.  It  measured  14  feet  by  24  feet  and  cost  $165. 

The  city  hall  property  was  sold  Sept.  26,  1905,  by  bids.  High 
bidder  was  J.  M    Baily    for  $3002. 

A  new  city  building  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the  present 
building.  The  contract  for  the  building  was  awarded  to  I.  S. 
Shaw.  His  bid  was  $7252.  Completion  date  was  120  days.  Bids 
were  opened  Oct.  5,  1905.  Paul  O.  Moratz  was  the  architect. 
The  fire  department  room  was  to  be  sealed  with  yellow  pine 
boards,  upper  floors  to  be  double,  first  layer  being  rough  and 
laid  diagonally;  copper  gutters  instead  of  tin;  brick  to  be 
Bloomington  brick  or  "any  brick  just  as  good." 

The  building  was  destroyed  by  fire  Feb.  11,  1937  -  the  day 
of  the  annual  Firemen's  Ball.  After  fire  destroyed  the 
building,  the  City  Council  met  on  the  first  floor  of  the  old 
Illinois  Bell  Telephone  Office  then  located  on  East  8th  St. 

Bonds  were  issued  in  the  amount  of  $21,000  to  finance  the 
cost  of  a  new  building.  The  architect  for  the  present  building 
was  Aschauer  &  Waggoner.  Bonds  were  sold  on  June  11,  1937, 
payable  over  10  years  at  3' 2  percent  interest. 

The  contract  was  let  in  September  19:?7  for  $21,625.  The 
contractor  was  J.  W.  Montgomery  of  Danville.  Plumbing, 
heating  and  wiring  contract  was  awarded  to  Lester  Ping  for 
$3,849.  Final  payment  was  made  in  March  1938,  upon  com- 
pletion and  approval  of  the  contract. 

The  bronze  plaque  which  hangs  in  the  hall  of  the  city 
building  was  presented  to  the  city  by  John  V.  Anderson, 


This  City  Hall  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  Feb.  11, 1937. 


FIRST  JAILHOUSE 


32 


GIBSON  COMMUNITY  HOSPITAL 

The  Gibson  Community  Hospital  is  a  59  bed  general 
hospital  operated  in  conjunction  with  the  Gibson  Community 
Hospital  Annex,  a  26  bed  nursing  home. 

The  hospital  was  originally  opened  in  1952  (after  its  charter 
in  1946)  as  a  50  bed  institution.  An  addition  completed  in  1963 


increased  its  capacity  to  the  present  total  of  85  beds. 

The  Gibson  Community  Hospital  and  Annex  are  licensed 
by  the  Illinois  State  Board  of  Health  and  are  both  accredited 
by  the  Joint  Commission  on  Accreditation  of  Hospitals.  The 
hospital  is  a  member  of  the  American  Hospital  Association, 
the  Illinois  Hospital  Association,  a  Blue  Cross  hospital  and  is 
certified  for  Medicare  patients. 

One  hundred  twenty  ■  five  employees  participate  in  patient 
care  either  directly  or  indirectly  in  the  hospital  or  annex.  All 
general  hospital  facilities  are  provided  such  as  laboratory,  x- 
ray,  surgery,  maternity,  nursing,  acute  care,  post  anesthesia 
recovery,  inhalation  therapy,  physical  therapy,  etc.  Con- 
tinuing efforts  have  been  made  through  the  years  to  add  new 
facilities  and  upgrade  all  sections  of  the  hospital  and  annex. 

A  total  of  12. physicians  and  dentists  representing  Gibson 
City,  Bellflower,  Colfax,  Paxton,  Roberts,  Saybrook,  Sibley, 
and  Champaign  are  on  the  active  staff  of  the  hospital  with 
another  19  physicians  and  surgeons  from  various  cities  in 
central  Illinois  serving  on  the  consulting  staff. 

The  Gibson  Community  Hospital  and  Annex  is  a  tribute  to 
the  courage,  faith  and  concern  for  people  felt  by  the  citizenry 
living  in    the  Gibson  community. 


VILLAGE  PRESIDENTS 


MAYORS 


T   D.  Spalding  (1872) 

J.  H.  Collier  (1873) 

S.  J.  LeFevre  (1874) 

George  Mullendore  (1875) 

C.  C.  Grim  (1876) 

A.  Crabbs  (1877) 

James  E.  Crammond  (1878) 

Wm.  Cornell  Jr.  (1879) 

A.  Crabbs  (1880  -  81) 

G.  D   Spauding  (1882) 

G.  S.  Egglestone  (1883) 

J    E.  Crammond  (1884-85) 

O    H    Damon  (1886) 

J    E    Crammond  (1887  -  88) 

Dr.  T   R.  Wiley  (1889) 

T.  D.  Spalding  (1890  -  93) 

John  H.  Holmes  (1893  -  94) 

On  May  22, 1894,  an  ordinance  was  passed  and  approved  by 
the  president  and  board  of  trustees  of  the  village  of  Gibson, 
declaring  the  City  of  Gibson  duly  incorporated,  and  called  for 
a  special  election  for  the  election  of  a  mayor,  city  council, 
city  clerk,  city  attorney  and  city  treasurer  for  the  ensuing 
year  and  for  the  appointment  of  .judges  and  clerks  of  said 
election. 

The  question  for  city  organization  was  submitted  to  voters 
a(  an  election  held  April  17,  1894  "in  the  manner  provided  by 
law.  and  the  majority  of  votes  cast  at  .said  election  were  for 
city  organization  under  the  general  law." 

The  president  nf  the  village  at  thai  lime  was  J.  H  Holmes 
Trustees  were  J.  C  Thornton,  Timothy  Ross,  E.  H  Harry,  W. 
A  Hoover  and  Fred  Kesting.  Judges  for  the  election  of 
Gibson  City's  first  mayor,  six  aldermen,  city  clerk,  city 
atlorney  and  city  treasurer  were  John  W.  Ewing.  James 
Kobhins  and  Jacob  W.  Preston.  Clerks  were  Henry  C. 
Johnson  and  Amos  Ball. 


T.  D.  Spalding  (1894-95) 
O.  H.  Damon  (1895-96) 
EH.  Harry  (1897-98) 
J.  K.  Jones  (1899  -  1900) 
0.  H.  Damon  (1901  -  02) 
Jacob  Roth  (1903  -  06) 
C.  W.  Knapp  (1907  -  08) 
H    P    Arrowsmith  (1909  -  10) 
John  T.  Swanson  (1911  -  14) 
William  Noble  (1915  -  17) 

resigned  Dec.  1918 
EH  Harry  (unexpired  term  of  Wm.  Noble)  (1918) 
G    W.  Merritt  (1919     died  May  1920) 
Dr    Frank  Hunt  (1920  -  22) 
Peter  Scheriz  (1923  -  26) 
Dr.  Frank  Hunt  (1927-  28) 
F  P  Johnson  ( 1929  -  died  August  1930;  H.  C,  Krudup  mayor 

pro-lem ) 
H.  C  Krudup  ( 1930  -  39  -  Frank  Hunt  Jr.  mayor  pro  -  tem ) 
Frank  Hunt  Jr.  (Sept    1939  -  May  1944,  R.  J.  Knapp,  mayor 

pro  -  tem ) 
Robert  J    Knapp  ( 1945  -  49) 
Elmer  E    .Swanslrom  (1949  -  53) 
Henry  Hagcr  (1953    resigned  Feb.  59,  W.  A.  O'Neal,  mayor 

pro  lem ) 
Clifford  L  Shaner  ( May  1959  special  election  -  61 ) 
David  S.  Stoker  (1961  -  65) 
Charles  H   Crowley  (1965  -  69)  Leiand  Bush,  mayor  protem 

from  May  to  July  1969) 
Donald  E    Craig  (.July  1969,  special  election) 


33 


MOVER  LIBRARY  HISTORY 


Those  of  us  who  do  not  know  intimately  the  history  of 
Gibson  City,  perhaps  wonder  when  the  idea  of  having  a  pubUc 
library  in  Gibson  first  had  its  inception.  There  are  on  file  at 
the  library,  some  of  the  first  certificates  issued  by  the  Gibson 
Library  Association  dated  June  24,  1876.  Only  one  other 
enterprise  in  Gibson  has  longer  standing  -  the  Gibson  City 
Courier. 

The  data  concerning  the  work  of  this  library  association 
isn't  very  definite  but  the  best  that  could  be  learned  from  the 
records  is  that  it  was  carried  on  under  great  difficulties,  no 
permanent  quarters  being  available.  The  first  stock  of  books 
were  housed  in  Dr.  Water's  office,  a  building  in  the  block  now 
occupied  by  the  present  library. 

The  first  Gibson  Library  Association  carried  on  from  1876 
probably  until  1890.  The  association  issued  a  catalogue  in  1879 
listing  some  300  volumes.  Another  catalogue  issued  in  1883 
listed  some  400  volumes.  Mr.  Lowry  says,  in  the  letter  from 
which  this  material  is  taken,  that  it  was  his  privilege  to  be 
librarian  on  Saturday  afternoons  when  he  did  the  most  solid 
reading  of  his  lifetime.  From  1890  to  1900,  the  library  was  in 
the  care  of  the  local  Y.M.C.A.  and  was  housed  in  an  upstairs 
room  over  the  Kash  and  Karry  Store,  that  is  now  the  south 
part  of  Cornie's  shoe  store. 

About  1905  the  library  was  moved  to  the  Burwell  Opera 
House,  now  the  Masonic  Lodge.  During  these  years  no 
regular  librarian  was  in  charge.  From  this  time  for  several 
years  it  was  housed  in  different  places,  notably  the  Higgin's 
photograph  studio  in  the  McClure  Block,  this  is  now  where 
the  buildings  were  burned  and  torn  down  and  is  now  an 
empty  parking  lot.  The  old  Library  Association  name  still 
remained. 

Early  in  the  winter  of  1911  it  was  disclosed  that  William 
Moyer,  one  of  the  early  settlers,  left  Gibson  $14,000  to  be  used 


for  the  benefit  of  the  city.  It  was  decided  to  build  a  library  for 
the  city  and  a  lot  was  secured  at  a  cost  of  $4,400  from  the 
father  of  Mrs.  Chloe  Rady  Barrow.  The  rest  of  the  money  was 
to  be  put  into  the  building  and  equipment.  When  the  old 
library  association  turned  over  its  books  to  the  Wm.  Moyer 
Library,  named  after  its  donor,  there  were  between  five  and 
six  hundred  volumes. 

The  original  Wm.  Moyer  Library  was  torn  down  because  it 
had  been  condemned  by  the  state  and  the  new  library,  under 
the  name  of  Moyer  Library  was  built.  It  took  five  years  and 
two  bond  issues  to  get  sufficient  funds  to  build  the  present 
library.  During  those  five  years  the  library  was  housed  in  the 
V.F.W.  building  just  south  of  the  railroad  on  Lott  Boulevard. 

In  1962,  the  library  moved  into  its  new  building  and 
celebrated  with  a  grand  opening.  In  this  centennial  year, 
1971,  Moyer  Library  has  over  14,000  volumes.  Gibson  City  has 
had  library  service  for  over  95  years  -  from  1876  to  1971.  Now 
even  better  service  is  possible  because  of  the  library's 
membership  in  the  Lincoln  Trails  Library  System.  This 
makes  possible  not  only  many  more  books  but  also  films, 
records  and  pictures. 

The  regular  librarians  since  the  first  library  building  have 
been  Mrs.  Lucy  Culter  from  1912  to  1949.  Mrs.  Charlotte 
McClure  assisted  and  was  librarian  for  a  time.  She  was 
succeeded  by  Mrs.  Mary  Kay  Barton  Edwards.  The  present 
staff  at  Moyer  Library  consists  of  Mrs.  James  Hartford, 
librarian,  Mrs.  RuthSwanson,  Mrs.  James  Mitchell  and  Mrs. 
James  Kidd. 

The  present  library  board  consists  of  W.  Thos.  Francis, 
president;  Larry  Swartzell,  v.  president;  Mrs.  Jon  Hunt, 
secretary;  Richard  Moody,  treasurer;  Mrs.  E.  C.  Bucher; 
Mrs.  John  Noble;  Richard  Kemple;  Mrs.  David  Kramer  and 
Dr.  T.  Q.  Swanson. 


n 


-^'  — j-.'-^^.^-j'-'i^^.— ^-^^.  ^^■■. — ■  — v^^.  ■ — » •^i^f/i^ie^i 


$2.00 


^0.  // 


m' 


t^%M 


<P. 


0/      0y'^yy~/>o  toiitiiii,  'Jl/itioh,  M  ilie  jSwinr  and  laider  of    am  r)ftate 

of  cVoci,-  in  Hic  GIBSON  LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION,  Mibjecf  h  a/f  the 

voKdilioiiA  iiiiJ  tii'iiit  of  liJiiyfei  of  AuiJ  M'^i:!;.  a^  pioi'iJcJ  ti(  (lie  toiiAiiiuiion  and 

^blj-£vil<^r'i    -jj   Mlid  JlAAOciiltioil. 

H'lfiiiss    till    /111/14' iif    till-    Seriiliiru.    mill    Ihr   efirinirnlr    Snil   ^f   said    SssociatiDii .    this 


34 


ORIGINAL  MOVER  LIBRARY 


e^  w^ 


NEW  MOVER  LIBRARY  OPENED  IN  1962 


35 


View  of  city  some  years  ago  taken  from  top  of  Central  Soya  bins. 


(f^^ 

^ 


WATEK  WORKS.  GIBSON  CITY.  ILLINOIS. 


OLD  WATER  WORKS 


WATER  TOWER 


36 


A  Christinas  season  scene  years  ago.  Smaller  lighted  trees  decorated  the  sidewalks. 


Old  street  scene  showing  Moyer  fountain 


MOVER  FOUNTAIN 


37 


The  pavilion  in  (he  North  Park  is  the  scene  of 
many  family  fialheiings  and  hand  concerts  in  the 
siimmerlinie.  The  old  dirt  floor  was  covered  with 


blacktop  in  I!m;s.  The  project  was  sponsored  by 
the  .lavcees. 


THE  PAVILION  AT  NORTH  PARK 


The  pavilion  at  the  north  park  was  originally  owned  by  a 
f^roup  called  the  Chautauqua  Association.  The  association 
fjave  it  to  the  City  by  resolution  September  24,  1929,  for  the 
indebtedness  of  $250. 

The  original  resolution  read  as  follows: 
To  the  Honorable  Mayor  and  Aldermen, 

City  of  Gibson,  State  of  Illinois: 

At  an  official  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  Gibson  City 
Chautauqua  A.ssociation,  held  in  the  Chautauqua  Pavilion  in 
the  City  of  Gibson  and  State  of  Illinois,  on  the  evening  of 
Monday,  September  2.3,  1929,  a  resolution  was  passed  and 
adopted  by  a  majority  of  the  members  and  a  majority  of  all 
outstanding  stock,  by  virtue  of  which  the  Chautauqua 
Pavilion,  located  on  City  Park  Ground,  is  tendered  to  the  City 
of  Gibson,  to  become  its  exclusive  property,  to  be  maintained 
by  the  City  for  the  public  pruposes  for  which  it  was  erected, 
and  such  purposes  as  in  the  judgment  of  the  City  Council  are 
for  the    benefit  of  the  community 

This  action  was  taken  by  the  Chautauqua  Association  to 
preserve  and  perpetuate  this  unique  and  valuable  property 
for  the  benefit  and  enjoyment  of  the  community,  and  to  serve 
as  a  gathering  place  for  functions  which  can  be  ac- 
commodated in  no  other  enclosures  in  the  community,  and 
with  I  he  undei-s landing  that  the  only  reimbursement  asked  of 


the  city  will  be  the  payment  of  the  present  small  in- 
debtedness of  the  Association,  amounting  to  the  sum  of  about 
$2.'sn.oo. 

The  tender  of  this  property  is  made  to  your  honorable  body 
with  the  hope  that  it  will  receive  your  favorable  con- 
sideration. 

Presented  by 

J.  T.  Swanson, 
Dr.  Geo.  A.  Wash, 
W.  S.  Lamb, 

Committee. 

C.  E.  Lowry, 
L.  E.  Rockwood, 
Dr   R.  N.  Lane, 

Resolutions  Committee. 

C.  E.  Lowry, 

President  Chautauqua  Ass'n 
Bryson  Strauss, 

Acting  Secretary. 


38 


DKIMIMKI?  T()\V\SII1I'CK.METKRY.  1X7 


The  people  of  this  communiK'  may  well  be  proud  of  ihi' 
beautiful,  well  kept  cemten.'  on  the  knoll  at  the  southwest 
edge  of  our  city  Jonathan  B  Lolt.  the  Founder  of  Cibson.  in 
1870  planned  to  build  his  house  on  the  site,  but  decided  the 
location  would  be  the  best  in  the  \illage  lor  a  burial  ground 
\ie  built  his  house  on  what  was  to  be  named  Sangamon 
Avenue. 

In  1874  he  deeded  10  acres  of  land  on  the  •hill"  to  Drummer 
Township  for  a  Burying  Ground  with  the  pro\  ision  that  an 
assiKiation  be  formed  and  trustees  elected  to  supervise  the 
management  of  the  cemetery  and  a  lax  be  le\ied  lo  maintain 
it.  This  plan  has  been  followed  since  that  lime 

The  original  cemetery  was  laid  out  with  a  circular  dirve 
around  the  hill  and  the  "Soldier's  Circle"  given  the  place  of 
honor  at  the  top  of  the  hill.  In  the  cente  of  the  Circle  Lott 
Post.  No  70.  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  placed  a  large 
cannon  and  a  parrot  gun  with  a  number  of  shells  which  they 
received  from  the  United  States  government  Fortress 
Monroe  A  flagpole  was  erected  beside  the  cannon.  This  was 
dedicated  to  the  soldiers  at  a  ceremony  on  Memorial  Day 
May  30.  1898.  A  circle  of  Civil  War  veterans  graves  surrounds 
the  cannon. 

The  first  burial  in  the  cemetery  was  that  of  Mrs.  Mary 
Bowkerwhodiedat  her  farm  home  south  of  town  on  Januarv^ 
R.  1876. 

The  original  plot  of  ground  has  been  enlarged  several 
limes  and  now  consists  of  approximately  40  acres,  extending 
from  the  pine  trees  on  the  north  to  Routes  54-47  on  the  south 
and  to  Route  47  on  the  west.  Several  new  drives  have  been 
constructed  and  plantings  of  evergreens  and  shrubbery- 
added.  Many  of  the  old  trees  were  destroyed  in  the  tornado  of 
a  few  years  ago. 

The  old  cemetery  record  books  show  only  the  name  of  the 
purchaser  of  the  lot.  hence  graves  of  the  early  settlers  are 


often  hard  to  lex-ate  If  there  is  no  marker  Better  records  are 
now  kept 

The  first  burying  ground  for  this  area  was  on  the  .Andrew 
Jordan  farm  In  ihe  1880  s  ihe  marked  graves  from  there 
were  moved  lo  thi'  new  town  cemetery  Where  no  relatives 
could  be  contacted,  a  section  in  the  cemetery  was  ':i''  aside 
for  those  gra\  es  Some  of  the  markers  were  of  wood  .md  long 
since    unreadable 

During  the  summer  of  1962,  the  members  of  the  Govenor 
Thomas  Ford  Chapter  of  the  Daughters  of  the  American 
Revolution  conducted  a  complete  survpy  of  every  cemetery 
in  Ford  County  and  recorded  the  readable  inscriptions  on  the 
markers  and  tombstones  in  each  one  There  were  over  :i700  of 
these  in  Drummer  Township  Cemetery  at  that  time  Twenty 
five  or  so  were  unreadable 

Six  books  were  printed  with  these  listings.  There  is  one  in 
Moyer  Library  in  Gibson  City  with  the  records  of  Ihe  local 
cemetery  also  of  Mt  Hope  Cemetery  in  Sibley.  Waggoner, 
Flliolt,  Wallace,  Pontoppidan,  Meharry,  Farmersville,  Ten 
Mile  Grove,  Pleasant  Grove  and  Mt.  Olivet  Cemeteries 

There  are  60  marked  Civil  War  Veterans  graves,  five 
Spanish  American  War  ones,  and  about  70  World  War  I 
Veteran's  graves.  Not  all  the  veteran's  graves  may  have 
been  marked. 

Until  recent  years  flags  and  flowers  were  placed  or 
veteran's  graves  for  Memorial  Day.  There  has  always  beei 
Memorial  Day  services  conducted  by  Veterans  organization; 
starting  almost  a  century  ago  when  the  grand  army  o 
Republic  men  returned  from  the  Civil  War  honored  theii 
soldier  dead.  This  has  been  continued  through  the  vears  b\ 
the  men  who  have  come  home  from  the  Spanish-Americar 
War,  World  War  I,  World  War  II,  Ihe  Korean  Conflict  anc 
Vietnam  War.  The  American  Legion  and  Veterans  of  Foreigr 
Wars  are  carrying  on  with  this  time  honored  tradition. 


Soldiers'   Monument,  Gibson   City,   III 


Soldier's  Monument 


Volunteer  firemen  of  1883 


ij   N  : 


rebuilt,  bet.er  than  before  ^  determination  of  these  pioneers,  the  businesses  were  always 


40 


-JCI 


W 


-^^^>>I.i; 


*i^ 


^-'jtl* 


Gibson  City  Fire  Department  float  in  Corn  Carnival  parade. 


Members  of  the  Gibson  City  Band  as  they  appeared  the  day  before  Decoration  Day,  May,  1910.  Front 
row.  seated  from  left:  Charles  l.owery.  Bill  Ricks.  Clyde  Smith  (leader).  John  Christensen  and 
Raymond  Green:  .'nd  row.  from  left:  Hugh  Bell.  (?)  .Swartsley,  Earl  Coal,  Jule  Paxton,  Jim  Mitchell, 
Kdward  Augspurger  (?i  Paxton  and  unidentified.  Third  row,  from  left:  (?)  Bland,  Ira  Munsen.  Mike 
Huffman  and  Ralph  Huffman. 


41 


Country  lane  near  Gibson  City,  III. 


H 
I 

S 
T 

0 
R 
Y 


42 


A  SHORT  HISTORY  OF  GIBSON  CITY  AND  VICINITY 

Of  the  102  counties  in  Illinois.  Ford  County  was  the  last  to 
be  organized.  It  has  an  odd  shape  because  it  was  founded 
from  land  taken  from  Vermillion  and  other  surrounding 
counties.  It  was  named  in  honor  of  the  eighth  governor  of 
Illinois,  Thomas  Ford  and  was  created  a  county  by  act  of  the 
legislature  on  February  17,  1869. 

The  first  settlers  in  Ford  County  located  at  Trinkle's  Grove 
near  Paxton  in  1835  before  the  county  was  organized.  There 
are  twelve  townships  in  Ford  County  --  Patton,  Drummer, 
Rogers,  Brenton,  Button,  Dix,  Wall,  Pella,  Mona,  Lyman. 
Sullivant.  and  Peach  Orchard.  Drummer  Township  was 
second  organized  --  in  1858,  and  is  said  to  have  taken  its  name 
from  the  little  grove  called  Drummer  Grove  which  lies  about 
a  mile  northwest  of  the  present  Gibson  City.  The  grove  is 
said  to  have  been  named  for  Thomas  Cheney's  hunting  dog, 
Drummer;  so  called  because  he  was  good  at  "drumming  up 
wild  game." 

The  first  settler  in  the  Gibson  City  vicinity  was  Andrew 
Jordan  who  came  here  in  1851.  In  1855,  a  Dr.  Davis  settled  at 
Drummer  Grove  where  he  pursued  farming  and  also  prac- 
ticed his  profession.  Thomas  Stephens  settled  on  land  in  the 
southern  part  of  Drummer  Township  in  the  early  1850's  and 
engaged  in  extensive  livestock  raising  during  the  first  year, 
later  in  raising  flax  and  corn. 

A  little  later  came  Sam  LeFevre,  J.  H.  Dungan  and 
Leonard  Pierpont.  who  settled  near  what  was  to  become  the 
village  of  Gibson 

In  a  short  time  the  Canterbury,  McClure,  McKeever  and 
Weakman  families  came.  Settlers  had  to  drive  to  Paxton  or 
to  Chatsworth  to  market  their  produce,  get  their  mail,  and 
buy  their  supplies. 

The  dairy  of  an  early  Ford  County  settler  describes  Illinois 
in  the  I850's.  "It  was  not  a  barren  waste.  It  was  a  bleak,  cold 
waste  in  the  winter  time.  The  snow  went  the  way  the  wind 
took  it  as  far  as  it  wanted  to  go  and  the  tumble  weeds  also; 
but  in  the  summer  time  it  was  all  grass  and  flowers;  the  tall 
grass,  when  the  wind  blew,  was  like  waves  of  the  sea, 
beautiful  to  behold.  You  could  see  as  far  as  the  strength  of  the 
eye  would  permit.  If  you  knew  where  you  wanted  to  go,  you 
had  nothing  to  do  but  start  out  and  go.  There  were  no  roads  or 
hedges  as  there  are  now,  but  look  out  for  the  ponds  of  water, 
you  would  be  into  one  before  you  knew  it.  The  grass  would  be 
higher  than  your  heads  and  it  would  be  lots  more  trouble 
getting  out  of  it  than  in  it.  The  country  was  mostly  given  over 
to  grazing.  Cattle  were  fattened  on  grass  and  driven  to 
Chicago  or  to  eastern  points  for  market.  Settlers  had  a  hard 
time  to  keep  the  deer  and  cattle  from  their  little  corn  pat- 
ches." 

Jonathan  B.  Lott,  Civil  War  veteran,  in  1869,  purchased  the 
town  site  of  Gibson  City  from  Jesse  B.  Whitehead  of 
Chicago,  and  in  February,  1970,  the  land  was  surveyed  for  a 
mile  square.  Lott  built  his  home  here,  and  Gibson  City  had  its 
inception.  Mr.  Lott  named  the  village  Gibson  in  honor  of  his 
wife.  Margaret  Gibson.  Later  the  "City"  was  added  to 
distinguish  it  from  Gilson,  Illinois.  With  the  help  of  influential 
friends,  he  succeeded  in  having  the  surveys  of  three  railways 
changed  to  come  through  his  town,  a  great  task  for  any  one 
man  at  any  time. 

The  first  commercial  business  done  in  the  city  was  by 
William  Moyer,  who  opened  a  grain  office  in  December,  1870. 
Wilson  Brothers  opened  a  general  store  in  June.  1871.  In  the 
same  month  came  H.  J  Collier.  T.  D.  Spalding  opened  a 
lumber  yard  near  the  crossing  of  the  railroads.  M  T.  Burwell 
established  the  first  bank  in  1872.  the  .same  year  the  first 
paper  The  Enterprise  was  published  in  Gibson  City. 

The  village  was  incorporated  in  1872,  with  T   D   Spalding, 


J.  H.  Collier,  S.  J.  LeFevre,  Bruce  McCormick  and  W.  T. 
Kerr  as  trustees,  with  Spalding  ser\'ing  as  the  first  mayor. 

The  first  wedding  was  that  of  Miss  Hattie  Gibson,  a  sister 
of  Mrs.  Lott,  to  Bruce  McCormick.  The  first  girl  born  in 
Gibson  was  Maude  Lott,  a  niece  of  J.  B.  Lott.  Harry  Spalding, 
son  of  T.  D.  Spalding,  was  the  first  boy.  Methodist  built  the 
first  church  in  town  and  were  soon  followed  by  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterians,  United  Brethren  and  Catholics. 

In  January,  1883,  Gibson  City  had  a  destructive  fire  which 
burned  most  of  the  west  side  of  the  street,. but  in  six  months 
time  brick  structures  had  replaced  the  wooden  ones.  The 
most  pretentious  building  was  the  Opera  House  owned  by  M. 
T.  Burwell.  It  is  now  the  Masonic  Lodge  Hall,  and  in  those 
early  days  was  said  to  be  the  finest  opera  house  in  the  state 
outside  of  Chicago.  It  boasted  a  stage,  scenery,  drop  cur- 
tains, and  was  lighted  by  gas. 

The  water  works  were  built  in  1895  at  a  cost  of  $30,000.  It 
was  a  gala  day  for  Gibson  when  the  three  large  fountains 
donated  to  the  town  were  unveiled  and  the  water  turned  on. 
The  large  fountain  at  Sangamon  and  Ninth  Streets  was  given 
by  William  Moyer;  the  one  in  front  of  the  Post  office  by 
Mattinson,  Wilson  and  Company;  and  the  fountain  at  the 
library  corner  was  the  gift  of  0.  H.  Damon.  October  8,  1895 
was  declared  a  holiday;  the  schools  were  closed  and  the 
water  was  turned  on  and  played  against  the  side  of  a  building 
to  show  the  people  how  high  it  would  go.  There  was  a  parade 
and  speeches.  Then  everybody  went  to  a  vacant  lot  where  a 
huge  bonfire  had  been  kindled.  The  firemen  came  with  their 
hose,  turned  on  the  water  and  put  out  the  fire. 


MARY  GRIMS  DESCRIPTION  OF  EARLY  DAYS 

When  building  in  the  village  began  the  slough  grass,  a 
particularly  tough,  strong  grass  grew  several  feet  high:  often 
it  would  grow  as  high  as  a  horse.  Weeds  flourished  in  (he 
swampy  ground.  For  many  years  there  was  trouble  with 
water  and  mud  and  in  the  western  part  of  the  village  it  was  .^ 
necessary  in  flood  times  to  rescue  people  with  horses. 

There  were  no  churches,  no  schoolhouses,  no  colleges  to 
speak  of,  for  miles  from  the  settlement.  There  were  only  a 
half  dozen  or  more  families  on  all  the  surrounding  prairie. 
Such  was  the  land.scape,  such  the  conditions  thai  invited 
these  early  settlers. 

Game  was  plentiful,  such  as  deer,  wild  hogs,  wild  turkeys, 
geese,  prairie  chickens  and  wild  ducks,  which  provided  meat 
for  the  families  for  quite  a  period  ahead. 

And  even  under  these  primitive  conditions,  the  settlement 
thrived  and  others  began  to  come  And  this,  when  spring 
opened  up  In  full  blast,  these  settlers  were  more  than  plea.sed 
with  the  prospects  before  Ihem. 

Of  course,  there  were  plenty  of  discouragements  too.  as  the 
ague  was  bad.  rattlesnakes  plentiful,  flies  simply  fierce, 
especially  which  was  known  as  (he  "green  heads,"  that  set 
the  horse  frantic,  yet,  with  all  this  these  settlers  persevered. 
always  looking  on  I  he  bright  side 

The  first  person  buried  in  the  new  cemetary  was  Mrs. 
Mary  S.  Bowker  She  died  .Jan.  8,  1876  and  was  buried  on  the 
beautiful  knoll  southwest  of  Ihe  village  where  wild  deer  had 
roamed  only  a  few  years  before 

The  first  trees  were  planted  in  Gibson  City  in  May  1879. 

These  were  planted  by  a  .)  W  Moore.  .500  trees  of  Ihe 
following  varieties 

2(MI  Box  Riders  12' lo  15' high 

liKiAsh  «•  to  10' high 

UK)  Kim  8' lo  10' high 

:i(iLmden  8' loll)' high 

20  European  Mountain  Ash  8'  to  10'  high 


43 


50  Evergreens,  assorted  6'  to  8'  high 

50  Ornamental  trees  and  shrubs  such  as  weeping  ash, 
willow,  poplar. 

The  sum  paid  was  $150.00,  payable  as  follows  when  trees 
are  planted  and  in  good  condition  $65.00;  when  the  said  500 
trees  are  found  to  be  growing  and  in  healthy  condition 
$40.00;  when  said  trees  leaf  out  in  the  spring  of  1880  and  are 
found  to  be  growing  and  in  good  condition  the  balance  of 
$45.00. 


^Rl 


A  team  of  coal-black  horses  was  used  to  pull  the  fire  engine  in 
the  early  days  of  the  Gibson  City  Volunteer  Fire  Department. 
In  the  background  is  the  old  city  hall  which  was  destroyed  by 
fire  F'ebruary  n.  19.37.  It  was  built  in  1906.  The  picture  was 
furnished  by  long  -  time  volunteer  fireman.  Frank  Cooper. 
He  thought  the  picture  was  taken  sometime  in  the  I92n's. 


A  line  of  buggies  filled  with  mourners  were  included  in  the 
funeral  procession  for  Dr.  F.O.  Culter.  The  Knights  of 
Templers  of  Paxton,  wearing  plumed  hats,  marched  in 
the  procession. 


'JH 


44 


One  of  the  city's  most  impressive  funeral  processions  took  place  in  1908  upon 
the  death  of  Dr.  F.O.  Culter.  W.S.  Lamb  can  be  seen  on  the  hearse  at  left. 
Members  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  walked  behind  the  hearse. 


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45 


IIISlOl!^   (II    (.ll'.S((\  (  11  ^ 


Jonalhan  B  Lolt,  Civil  War  veieran.  in  18f,<i.  purchased  Ihe 
iownsilci)('(Jibsnn  City  from  J'jssr  H  W'hiifl.cnd  til  Chicago 
and  in  February,  187(i.  iho  land  was  >u-vcved.  for  a  mile 
s()uare.  Loll  hiiill  his  home  here,  and  fJihson  City  had  its 
inception 

Because  Ihe  original  town  was  plaled  and  l:iid  out  by  Lott, 
it  was  named  after  his  widow,  M:irgaret  A  Gibson,  whom  he 
married  in  18(i7  In  making  application  for  a  pcj.M  oflice  of  the 
same  name,  thai  department  added  thr  U'  id  "city"  to  the 
original  name  because  of  thesiniilani>  wiih  (iilson.  111. 

The  first  store  was  operated  by  Wilson  Brothers,  but  soon 
such  men  as  J.  H.  Ring,  J  H  Collier,  and  T.  D.  Spalding 
joined  in  the  ranks  of  business  men.  However,  the  first 
commercial  business  done  in  town  was  a  grain  elevator 
owned  by  William  Mnyer.  one  nf  the  city's  first  inhabitants. 
Me  started  his  business  in  1870  and  soon  reached  the  distinc- 
tion of  being  the  wealthiest  man  in  town 

C.  H  Yftemans  was  the  city's  first  lawyer:  Dr.  Anderson, 
the  first  physician;  J.  E.  Cruzcn  the  first  post  master;  andM. 
T  Burwell  the  first  banker.  The  first  paper  published  in 
Gibson  City  was  the  Enterprise,  by  N.  E.  Stevens,  in  1872,  and 
after  going  through  several  hands,  the  paper  finally  came  to 
the  Lowry  family.  Methodists  built  the  first  church  in  town 
and  were  followed  by  the  Cumberland  Presbyterians,  United 
Brethren  and  Catholics.  The  village  was  incorporated  in 
1872,  with  T.  D.  Spalding,  J.  H.  Collier,  S.  J.  LeFevre,  Bruce 
McCormick,  and  W.  T.  Kerr  as  trustees.  A  little  later 
Spalding  served  as  the  city's  first  mayor.  A  few  years  later, 
in  1874,  there  was  erected  Ihe  finest  school  building  in  the 
county  with  a  capacity  of  300  students.  Another  school 
building  with  a  capacity  of  100  was  erected  eight  years  later. 
Both  of  these  buildings  were  destroyed  by  fire  in  1912  and  the 
present  grade  school  and  the  Drummer  Township  High 
School  were  erected  the  same  year. 

On  January  29,  188.3,  the  town  was  visited  by  a  fire  which 
swept  away  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours  about  $50,000  worth 
of  property.  It  was  here  the  enterprising  spirit  of  the  citizens 
showed  itself,  for  in  less  than  a  month  after  the  fire  workmen 
were  busy  rebuilding,  and  soon  had  erected  12  new  brick 
stores  and  other  improvements  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $80,000.  It 
was  at  this  time  that  M.  T.  Burwell's  opera  hall  was  erected 
which  was  made  famous  at  that  time  because  the  entire 
building  —  hall,  stage  and  footlights  —  was  lighted  by  gas. 

The  city's  waterworks  was  dedicated  in  1895,  the  city's  25th 
anniversary,  and  the  first  pump  had  a  capacity  of  1,500,000 
gallons  every  24  hours. 

The  first  railroad  through  Gibson  City  was  the  Gilman. 
Clinton  and  Springfield,  now  operated  by  the  Illinois  Central 
which  was  buill  in  1871,  and  was  followed  the  same  year  by 
the  I.alayelle,  Bloomington  &  Mississippi  (now  Norfolk  & 


Wi'<)(rn  Peori.i  brandv  \m  regular  'rams  were  run  until 
ilir  inll.iui.^  spring.  The  Chicago  and  Paducah.  now  Ihe 
■Nnrliilk  &  W.-siern  -  Decatur  branch,  was  buili  through 
(iibson  <"ii\   m  1874. 

II  was  in  Ibis  year  that  the  Swedish  delegation  of  settlers 
began  to  arrive  in  Gibson  City.  An  agreement  was  made  with 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  that  these  new  arrivals  should 
settle  on  the  land  Ihat  the  railroad  company  had  for  sale  in 
consideration  of  which  the  company  would  give  Ihe  Swedish 
.Auguslana  College  at  Paxton  a  commission  of  one  dollar  per 
acre  on  every  acre  sold  to  Ihe  Swedish  settlers. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  in  Guthrie  hall,  then  in 
Union  hall,  moved  after  that  to  Burwell's  opera  house,  and 
finally,  in  1906.  Ihe  city  hall  was  built.  Just  a  few  years  after 
Ihe  erection  of  the  city  hall,  the  William  Moyer  library  was 
erected  The  building  was  begun  in  1911  and  completed  in 
1912  and  was  made  possible  by  a  donation  of  $14,000  by 
William  Moyer, 

Bruce  McCormick,  the  first  happy  bridegroom  of  Gibson 
City,  married  Miss  Hattie  Gibson  in  1872.  The  first  child  born 
here  was  Maude  Lolt,  daughter  of  J  R.  and  Ollie.  born  in 
1873  Fred  Spalding,  the  first  boy  born  in  Gibson,  was  later 
killed  in  an  explosion  at  the  canning  factory.  The  first  school 
in  town  was  taught  by  Miss  Caroline  Williams.  Mr.  C.  H. 
■^'eomans  was  the  first  lawyer;  Dr.  Anderson  was  the  first 
physician;  J.  E.  Cruzen  was  Ihe  first  postmaster;  M.  T. 
Burwell  was  the  first  banker;  and  J.  H.  Collier  and  Austin 
Crabbs  were  among  the  first  prominent  business  men. 

Corn  and  oats  in  the  early  days  of  Gibson  sold  for  15  cents 
per  bushel,  with  eggs  at  3  cents  per  dozen.  The  first  store  was 
run  by  Wilson  Bros.  Their  stock  was  small  and  settlers  rode 
on  horseback  or  walked  to  Paxton  and  Saybrook  for  supplies. 
The  first  paper  published  in  Gibson  was  the  Gibson  En- 
terprise, published  by  N.  E.  Stevens  in  the  spring  of  1872.  In 
the  fall  of  1873  the  paper  was  purchased  by  Walter  Huge  who 
changed  Ihe  name  to  the  Gibson  Courier.  In  1875  Mr.  E. 
Lowry  became  the  owner  and  editor,  selling  in  1884  to  M.  F. 
Cunningham  and  John  C.  Malloy.  In  1897  he  repurchased  it 
and  it  was  later  published  by  his  sons.  The  paper  is  now- 
published  by  Kramer  Publishing  Co. 

In  1885  the  first  iron  foundry  was  started  by  E  H.  Harry.  In 
the  same  year  a  group  of  men  started  a  canning  factory  here. 
A  tile  factory  began  operation  by  Andrew  Jordan  on  his  farm 
just  southeast  of  town.  In  1890  a  novelty  factory  was  started 
by  Mr.  Spalding  and  Mr.  Eggleston.  In  1893  a  cigar  factory 
was  started  by  Mr.  0.  J.  Phillips.  In  1900  Mr.  George  Wood 
started  a  washing  machine  factory  which  later  became  a 
broom  factory.  In  1901  a  shoe  factory  was  located  here. 
(From  City  Directory,  published  by  City  of  Gibson  and 
sponsored  by  Gibson  Chamber  of  Commerce  in  late  1940's.) 


Gibson  City,  III.  in  1885.  The  village  was 
founded  by  Jonathan  B.  Lott  in  I87n  and 
was  named  for  his  wife,  Margaret 
Gibson.  McCabe  Meat  Market  shown  at 
right  and  old  town  pump  and  horse 
trough.  Rev.  D.  O.  Oiffin  and  family,  a 
I'.  B.  minister  is  shown  in  the  spring 
wagon  at  the  left.  Notice  the  board 
awnings  and  high  board  side  walks. 


46 


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GIBSON    CITY 

"MAIN     STREET" 
IN  THE  GAY  NINETIES 

JUNE     1947 


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47 


THE  TRIE  STORY 
HOW  DRUMMER  GRO\E  WAS  NAMED 

John  Myers,  now  a  resident  of  Kcntutk>  .  ulls  that  in  1836. 
he  in  company  with  his  brother,  Ephnam  Myers,  came  from 
Kentucky  to  explore  this  part  of  Illinois 

They  traveled  on  foot  by  way  of  Rantoul  with  the  mtention 
of  reaching  the  settlement  of  Cheney's  Grove  (now 
Saybrook). 

In  the  course  of  their  wanderings,  they  joined  Tom  Cheney, 
who  was  riding  a  horse  and  was  accompanied  by  his  dog, 
which  he  called  Drummer  because  he  was  good  at  'drum- 
ming up  wild  game'. 

When  they  reached  what  is  now  Drummer  Grove,  they 
discovered  traces  of  wild  hogs  at  the  north  end  of  the  grove. 
They  fired  into  the  bunch  and  succeeded  in  killing  two  of 
Ihem  Afterward  a  deer  was  seen  across  the  prairie.  Cheney 
left  his  horse  and  the  dog  in  charge  of  John  and  started  out  on 
foot  to  track  down  the  deer.  When  he  was  almost  close 
enough  lo  shoot  it.  the  dog  became  restless,  broke  loose,  and 
see^pg  the  deer,  immediately  gave  chase,  frightening  the 
deer  so  that  it  escaped  before  the  hunter  could  fire  a  shot. 

When  Tom  Cheney  came  back  to  the  Myer's  men,  he  said 
that  he  would  like  lo  shoot  that  dog  for  playing  such  a  trick, 
and  he  did  just  that,  right  then  and  there! 

Ephriam  immediately  suggested  that  they  name  the  grove 
Drummer  Grove,  in  honor  of  the  dog,  and  so  it  has  been  from 
that  day  '    this,  135  years  ago. 

Drummer  Grove  was  to  the  youth  of  the  village  what  the 
Lake  of  the  Woods  is  to  the  young  people  of  our  town  today,  a 
place  to  go  for  outings,  a  place  to  spend  a  few  hours  away 
from  the  streets  of  the  town,  the  school  room,  and  the  routine 
of  daily  life.  The  older  folk  of  those  early  days  enjoyed  a  trip 
lo  the  grove  also.  It  meant  a  new  hours  in  the  shade  of  trees, 
missing  in  the  treeless  village,  and  the  sound  of  running 
water,  which  many  had  enjoyed  in  their  former  homes. 

The  name  Drummer  was  honored  in  other  ways:  Drummer 
Township.  Drummer  Township  Cemetery,  Drummer 
Township  high  school  for  a  time  and  even  the  football  team 
was  called  the  Hounds.  Many  of  the  trees  have  fallen,  the 
spring  has  been  clogged  and  the  grove  has  been  closed  to  the 
public  because  of  vandalism  but  the  memory  of  the  good 
limes  In  Drummer  Grove  in  the  years  gone  by  lingers  on. 


DRUMMER  GROVE  FARM  AND 
OUR  PIONEER  ANCESTORS  IN  REFLECTION 

By  Helen  Foster  Kelley 

My  grandfather  John  N.  Vaughn,  a  Civil  War  veteran  and 
memberof  Lott  Post70G.A.R.,  Ford  Co.,  came  to  Gibson  in 
iKfiH  He  was  the  father  of  II  children.  In  1875  he  established 
the  first  implement  business  in  Gibson,  on  the  site  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  Corn  Belt  Hatchery.  He  installed  the  first  wind 
mills,  binders,  threshing  machines  and  steam  engines  to  be 
used  in  Ibis  territory.  A  few  years  later  he  added  the  selling 
of  real  estate  to  his  endeavors.  The  family  lived  in  and 
operated  a  hotel  then  located  just  north  of  the  present 
Fashion  Shop.  My  mother,  Ella  Vaughn  Foster,  loved  to 
recall  the  Republican  political  rallies  of  that  day  in  which 
they  all  look  part. 

In  very  early  days,  just  a  mile  northwest  of  Gibson,  there 
was  a  lovely  grove  of  virgin  timber  on  the  banks  of  a 
meandering  stream,  which  spread  out  over  a  gravel  deposit, 
making  a  very  good  ford  for  those  who  wished  to  cross.  Close 
lo  this  grove  and  on  the  banks  of  this  stream  were  several 
delightful  bubbling  springs  of  pure  water  from  which  anyone 
might  drink  with  safety.  II  was  here  Tom  Cheney  came  with 
his  dog  Drummer  to  hunt.  A  deer  was  spotted,  the  dog 
frightened  it  away  and  Cheney,  so  displeased  with  the  dog's 
behavior,  shot  and  buried  him  there.  Since  that  time  they 
have  been  called  Drummer  Grove  and  Drummer  Creek.  It 


has  been  said  that  Cheney,  prodded  by  remorse,  brought  an 
oak  from  Cheney's  Grove  and  planted  it  to  mark  the  dog's 
grave.  We  know  that  only  one  oak  tree  ever  grew  there.  It  has 
been  gone  for  several  years.  Many  of  the  walnut,  having 
passed  their  prime,  were  used  by  the  government  during 
World  War  II  for  gun  stalks. 

It  was  in  1854  that  Joshua  E.  Davis,  a  doctor  and  owner  of 
this  property,  came  to  Drummer  Grove  to  live  in  a  small 
house  with  out  -  buildings.  He  hired  a  tutor  for  his  children 
and  invited  those  in  the  neighborhood  to  come.  His  home  soon 
became  crowded,  and  he  moved  his  family  to  a  house  he  built 
on  the  site  we  now  occpy ,  which  burned  in  1913. 

When  the  county  was  laid  out  in  1858  and  roads  began  to 
develop,  land  was  set  aside  for  a  school  on  the  Mellenger 
farm  south  of  us,  and  the  Drummer  Grove  building  was 
moved.  Joshua  E.  Davis  moved  from  the  farm  in  1875.  His 
son  Frank  came  in  the  early  1930's  to  visit  the  scenes  of  his 
childhood. 

My  great  -  grandfather,  John  Foster,  traveled  through  this 
part  of  the  country  buying  grain  for  his  elevator  in  Chicago. 
In  the  year  1869  he  started  negotiations  to  buy  700  acres. 
Drummer  Grove  Farm,  from  Mr.  Davis.  In  1874  the  deal  was 
completed  and  a  release  granted. 

My  great  -  grandfather  then  began  to  improve  the  farm  by 
changing  the  channel  of  the  creek,  which  at  that  time  came 
very  near  the  living  quarters.  He  planted  a  large  orchard  of 
fruit  trees  bordered  on  the  south  by  seven  acres  of  pine. 
Hundreds  of  night  herons  made  their  home  there  for  years. 
He  also  planted  5000  forest  trees  in  four  different  groves, 
surrounding  one  with  beautiful  European  larch.  The  herbs 
penny  -  royal  and  anise  -  root  grew  there  abundantly.  He 
planted  many  wild  flowers  in  Drummer:  Jack  -  in  -  the  - 
pulpit,  Dutchman's  breeches,  dog  toothed  violets.  Wake 
robins  and  many  more,  along  with  flowering  shrubs.  The  wild 
crab  filled  the  air  with  fragrance  for  half  a  mile  in  spring. 
The  blue  birds  and  yellow  canaries  came  in  droves.  They 
loved  to  nest  there.  "There  were  pussy  willows  to  charm  the 
bees  in  spring  and  one's  choice  of  mint  for  a  cup  of  tea.  He 
built  a  fine  set  of  buildings  with  the  crib  up  on  stones  to  keep 
the  rats  out  and  brick  house  piped  with  spring  water  to  cool 
the  milk.  He  installed  many  miles  of  tile,  open  ditches,  and 
board  fencing  around  the  farm  and  groves  to  protect  them 
from  grazing. 

We  have  great  -  grandfather's  ledger  in  which  he  kept 
detailed  accounts  of  his  business  dating  back  to  1817.  I  can 
remember  the  sties  he  used  to  cross  the  fences  and  the 
homemade  sun  dials  conveniently  placed.  Before  he  died  in 
1898  he  deeded  my  father,  John  Stanhope  Foster,  218  acres 
with  instructions  to  "sink  or  swim".  Dad  also  received  120 
acres  when  his  mother  died,  but  he  did  learn  to  swim,  as  he 
soon  bought  the  remaining  family  interest  in  the  700  as  well 


48 


as  other  adjoining  acreage. 

In  (he  years  that  have  passed,  the  public  has  taken  ad- 
vantage of  their  welcome  to  go  and  come  as  they  pleased  at 
Drummer  Grove  and  the  old  swimming  hole.  There  was  a 
ball  diamond  there  at  one  time.  However,  besides  the 
ravages  of  nature,  the  public  also  proved  quite  destructive  by 


leaving  fires,  digging  up  the  flowers  and  trees,  filling  the 
springs  with  rocks  and  breaking  the  tile,  building  dams  in  the 
creek,  shooting  at  the  livestock  and  killing  the  birds  and 
squirrels.  So  it  has  become  necessary  to  restrict  access,  even 
though  the  grove  has  long  since  lost  its  bloom. 


•j^JdWawtW-: 


SAGA  OF  DRUMMER  GROVE 

Written  by  J.  P.  Lowry 
(former  editor  of  the  Gibson  Citv  Courier) 


Drummer  Grove!  Magic  name!  Paradise  of  boys  for  sixty 
years.  This  is  the  forest  primeval,  sans  murmering  pines  and 
hemlock,  but  verdant  with  oaH,  walnut,  hickory,  haw,  wild 
crab  apple  and  slippery  "ellum".  When  they  staked  out  the 
village  of  Gibson  in  the  prairie  bottoms  at  the  beginning  of 
(he  seventies.  Drummer  Grove  was  the  nearest  approach  of 
the  primeval  forest,  and  it  was  a  mile  and  a  half  away.  The 
urchins  of  the  seventies,  wandering  afield,  found  it  and 
whooped  for  joy. 

The  boys  of  the  eighties,  and  nineties  and  every  succeeding 
decade  have  found  in  it  the  land  of  romance,  the  land  of  Robin 
Hood  and  Tom  Sawyer  and  of  Injun  Joe.  They  have 
bivouacked  there  They  have  called  it  their  rendezvous, 
which  they  pronounced  renddez  -  vows  and  not  rondavoo. 
They  have  drunk  from  the  icy  spring  of  living  water  which 
has  bubbled  at  the  edge  of  Drummer  crick  for  ages.  They 
have  buried  their  treasures  in  its  soil. 

Here  Mother  Earth  has  taken  these  boys  to  her  bosom  and 
satisfied  the  restless  yearnings  of  their  souls.  The  gaunt, 
ancient  trees  have  thrilled  at  the  dark  secrets  whispered  in 
their  grateful  shade.  Sunfish  and  catfish  and  silversides  have 
nibbled  the  angle  worms  from  their  hooks,  and  startled 
crayfish  have  skeedaddled  in  the  brook  before  their  wading 
feet. 

The  big  Irees  are  still  there,  some  of  them  at  least,  but  the 
dense  mysterious  undergrowth  of  the  mystic  past  is  gone. 


and  one  charmmg  bend  of  Bendermeer's  stream  has  yielded 
lo  the  ruthle-ss  dredger.  The  place  is  still  eloquent  in  its 
natural  appeal,  an  oasis  in  the  surrounding  fields  of  corn.  A 
charm  from  Ihc  skies  seems  to  hallow  it  there,  a  little  bit  of 
heaven,  an  island  of  dreams. 

The  other  day  Drummer  Grove  was  rediscovered,  this 
lime  by  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  tribes  of  (he  Red  Man.  His 
eyes  saw  things  which  the  boys  of  yesterday  could  not  see.  He 
knew  the  ancient,  imperishable  signs  left  behind  by  a  race 
long  gone.  Accompanied  by  Gibson  men  who  had  been 
Drummer  boys,  he  traced  for  them  a  Kickapoo  Indian  (rail 
along  the  banks  of  the  little  stream.  He  uncovered  sites  of 
former  teepees,  and  dug  up  close  (o  (he  surface  chunks  of 
flint  and  firestone.  Here  was  an  Indian  habitation  of  perhaps 
25  to  30  teepees,  he  said,  and  hundreds  of  years  before  the 
Kickapoo  another  unknown  race  had  been  on  the  banks  of  (his 
stream  and  left  behind  (hem  "footprints  on  the  sand  of  time." 

Perhaps  this  is  the  secret  of  the  wild  rapture  which  has 
filled  (he  hear(  of  boyhood  in  the  quiet  precincts  of  Drummer 
Grove.  Maybe  Drummer  Grove  is  indeed  the  happy  hunting 
ground,  and  mayl)e  the  spirits  of  these  great  untutored  but 
nature  -  wise  aborigines  wander  in  these  shades  and  speak 
(he  language  of  Ihe  spiril  lo  wide  -  cNod  liltle  twys.  leaving  a 
benediction  and  an  impression  deeper  than  all  of  the  prattle 
of  civilization  and  book  learning.  Shades  of  ancient  Drum 
mer,  we  salute  (hee! 


49 


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50 


GIBSON  CITY  LIONS  CIA  B 

The  Gibson  City  Lions  Club  was  organized  on  April  20th, 
1922  with  twenty  -  six  members.  This  membership  had  in- 
creased to  thirty  -  five  by  the  time  the  club  had  its  charter 
night  on  June  29.  1922.  Lionism  was  then  four  years  old  and 
there  were  some  500  clubs  scattered  over  twenty  -  seven 
slates  of  the  Union,  compared  with  today's  16.558  clubs  in  118 
countries  and  geographical  areas.  At  that  time  Gibson  City 
was  the  smallest  city  ever  to  hold  a  charter  and  was  known  as 
the  baby  Lion  Club  of  America. 

The  following  year,  in  1923,  Gibson  City  Lions  Club  at- 
tended the  state  convention  with  the  Gibson  City  band  and  at 
the  banquet  was  presented  a  beautiful  silver  loving  cup. 
appropriately  inscribed,  for  having  the  largest  percentage  of 
its  membership  present  at  the  convention.  Gibson  City's  Hy 
Arrowsmilh  was  a  friendly  and  familiar  figure  at  all  the 
meetings  and  the  "Baby  Lions  Club  of  the  United  States"  was 
in  the  spotlight  throughout  the  convention. 

In  1924  the  convention  was  in  Elgin  and  again  a  good 
representation  of  our  club  attended  with  the  Gibson  City 
band.  Five  hundred  carnations,  three  hundred  roses  and  a 
thousand  sweet  peas,  all  Gibson  City  grown,  flooded  the 
convention.  Every  Lion  received  a  carnation,  every  Lion's 
lady  a  rose.  The  registration  lobby  of  the  big  Y.M.C.A. 
building  was  decorated  by  cartoons  and  catchy  mottos 
calling  attention  to  Gibson  City  as  the  place  for  the  next 
convention.  It  was  Hy  Arrowsmith's  third  convention  and  his 
name  had  become  a  household  word.  One  cartoon  claimed 
that  you  could  go  a  hundred  miles  on  one  boulevard  in  Gibson 
City  and  showed  Hy  riding  a  tricycle  around  the  median  strip 
of  the  new  Lott  Boulevard.  Another,  with  Hy  standing  by  a 
house,  with  people  sleeping  on  the  roof  and  half  way  out  the 
windows,  showed  what  accommodations  they  could  expect. 

there  was  keen  competition  for  the  convention  honors  for 
1925  but  so  potent  was  Gibson  City  that  Cook  County  asked 
the  privilege  of  making  the  nominating  speech  and  a  Chicago 
man  seconded  the  nomination.  As  the  roll  of  Illinois  clubs  was 
called,  the  vote  of  club  after  club  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County 
went  for  Gibson  City,  and  as  the  enthusiasm  grew,  downstate 
fell  into  line.  Gibson  City  won  on  the  first  ballot  and  im- 
mediately the  Gibson  City  band,  stationed  in  the  balcony, 
struck  up  "Hail.  Hail,  the  Gang's  All  Here,"  followed  by 
"There'll  Be  A  Hot  Time  in  the  Old  Town  Tonight."  En- 
thusiastic Lions  grabbed  Hy  Arrowsmith  and  carried  him 
around  the  hall  on  their  shoulders. 

The  Slate  Lions  Convention  was  held  in  Gibson  City  on  May 
18,  1925,  In  point  of  attendance  it  exceeded  every  record  of 
any  state  convention  prior  to  that  date.  The  mile  long  parade 
w'hich  followed  the  morning  session  surpassed  any  Lion 
parade  ever  seen  in  this  stale  up  to  that  time.  There  were 
seven  bands  plus  two  or  three  comic  bands.  Business  sessions 


look  place  in  the  Edna  Theater  and  the  6:30  banquet  w-as  held 
in  the  park  pavilion.  This  large  steel  and  glass  structure  had 
been  floored  for  the  occasion,  and  every  available  foot  of 
space  was  occupied  by  the  tables.  Four  different  churches 
sened  the  dinner  from  their  individual  tent  which  had  been 
erected  around  the  pavilion.  It  was  a  success  in  which  the 
entire  community  had  a  part.  Homes,  churches,  lodges, 
schools,  and  public  buildings  were  thrown  open  to  the 
honored  guests  of  the  city,  and  the  citizens  vied  with  each 
other  in  making  the  occasion  a  memorable  one.  The  Cook 
County  delegation,  representing  about  25  clubs,  chartered  a 
solid  Pullman  train  for  the  convention,  including  a  buffet  car. 
It  was  set  off  on  the  siding  of  the  Illinois  Central  tracks, 
where  it  served  as  a  hotel  for  the  Chicago  guests  for  the  two 
nights.  A  special  train  also  came  from  Springfield. 

For  49  years,  through  depressions,  booms,  and  wars  the 
members  of  the  Gibson  City  Lions  Club  have  met  every 
Tuesday,  except  for  the  months  of  July  and  August,  to  eat, 
laugh,  sing  and  enjoy  themselves.  But  underneath  it  all  is  a 
serious  purpose.  $5301.14  has  been  given  by  the  club  for  the 
building  of  the  Gibson  Community  Hospital  and  its  new 
addition.  The  club  donates  and  lends  its  aid  to  the  Community 
Chest  drive  and  money  is  given  to  the  student  loan  fund  each 
year.  Donations  are  made  to  the  Hadley  School  for  the  Blind 
and  Leader  Dog  School.  Students  are  sent  to  summer  music 
camps  and  Boy's  State.  The  children  of  the  community  are 
given  a  party  every  Halloween  and  on  Easter.  An  athletic 
banquet  is  co  -  sponsored  each  spring  honoring  athletes  of 
Gibson  City  High  School.  The  youth  baseball  program  is 
underwritten  by  the  club.  The  club  supen'ises  the  activities 
of  the  homecoming  football  games  and  prizes  are  given  for 
the  best  floats  in  the  homecoming  parade. 

A  gala  40th  birthday  celebration  was  held  in  1962  in  the  high 
school  gym.  The  event  attracted  some  600  Lions  and  their 
wives  from  all  over  the  state. 

During  the  year  1966  -  67  Lion  Wes  Calhoun  was  elected 
Governor  of  District  IB. 

In  the  spring  of  1967  the  District  IB  Convention  was  held  at 
the  High  School  in  Gibson  City. 

Gibson  City,  having  been  the  second  oldest  club  in  District 
IB,  became  the  oldest  club  in  the  newly  founded  District  IK 
in  1970.  The  club  holds  the  distinction  of  being  the  only  club 
meeting  at  noon  time  in  District  IK. 

Since  its  organization  the  club  has  sponsored  10  Lions 
Clubs:  Hoopeston.  Onarga.  Potomac.  Forrest.  Milford. 
Rossville.  Colfax.  Saybrook.  Melvin.  and  Sibley. 

All  of  the  original  25  charter  members  are  dead  except  one. 
Andrew  Tarbox  moved  to  Indiana  about  1927  and  now  lives  in 
Florida. 

Our  club's  50th  anniversary  will  be  held  in  the  fall  of  1972. 
In  the  50  years  of  Lionism  in  Gibson  City  much  has  been 
accomplished  by  the  Lions,  and  we  are  proud  of  our  club  as 
the  Lions  go  marching  on. 


A  HUNDRED  MILES 


ON 


ONE  BOULEVARD 


IHf^igqgy^ 

r  ^  '^     1 

— — _^                 /            '      ^ 

4&f'L^ 

(ORGANIZATIONS  continued  on  page  .5K) 


51 


Gibson  City  Area  Centennial  Calendar  of  Events 

June  26  through  July  3 


"OLD  FASHIONED  SUNDAY" 

Sunday,  June  27 

Ohm.  -  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Noel  Hutchcraft  (Ph:  784-5656) 

All  activities  to  be  held  at  the  North  Park  unless 

stated  otherwise . 


Morning 

12:00 

12:30-4:00 

1:30 

2:30 

3:00-5:00 


7:00 


Heritage  observance  in  all  churches 

Community  Potluck  Picnic 

Sports  Car  Rally  -   East  16th  Street 

Chanute  Air  Force  Band  Concert 

Presentation  of  Winning  Costumes 

Ice  Cream  Social 

Horseshow  Pitching  Exhibition 

Pony  Cart  Rides 

Park  Activities  and  Games 

Concert  by  the  Community  Childrens 

Choir 

Old  FaRV>*oned  Hymn  Sing 


"YOUTH  DAY" 

Monday,  June  28 

Chm.  -  Mr.  &  Mrs.  James  Hazen  (Ph:  784-4416) 

ALL  DAY        Youth  Organization's  Exhibits  and 

Displays  -  Tent  Uptown 
9:00  Children's  Parade  -  12  years  and 

under.  Awards  in  various  categories. 

Assemble  at  United  Methodist  Church. 
9:45  Opening  Ceremony  of  Gibson  City's 

Centennial  Celebration  -  Library. 
All  afternoon  and  evening  activities  to  be  held  at 
the  North  Park. 

1:00-3:00      Free  Swimming  -  18  years  old  and 

under  -  Gibson  Pool 
3:00  Youth  Swimming  &  Diving  Competition, 

Childrens  Games  &  Contests  -  Awards 
8:00  Teen  Dance  -  13  to  18  years  old 

Kitten  Ball  -  North  Park  Ball  Diamond 

For  older  "youth"  19  to  99  years  old. 

"PIONEER  HOMECOMING" 

Tuesday,  June  29 

Chm.  -  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Gary  Keii,,  (Ph:  7  84-4117) 


Displays  &  Exhibits  -  Tents  Uptown 
Pancake  &  Sausage  Breakfast  - 
Legion  Hall 

Antique  Flea  Market  -  Uptown 
Memorial  Service  for  pioneers  and 
Founders  -  Cemetery 
Horseshoeing  -  Place  to  be  announced 
Fruit  Pie  Baking  Contest  -  Tent  Uptown 
Pies  must  be  at  the  tent  by  12:30. 
Judging  at  1:00 

Recognition  Ceremony  &  Awards  for 
pioneers  and  former  residents,  fol- 
lowed by  refreshments  and  conver- 
sation hour.  Tent  Uptown 
All  evening  activltes  to  be  held  at  the  North  Park 
5:00-7:00      Ham  &  Bean  Supper 

Old  Time  Fiddlers  Competition 

Square  &  Round  Dance 

Exhibition  by  Circle  R  Square  Dance 

Club 


ALL  DAY 
6:00-9:00 

(A.M.) 
8:00-7:00 
10:00 

.11:00-4:00 
1:00 


2:00 


7:30 
8:30-11:30 


"TOWN  &  COUNTRY  DAY  #1" 

Wednesday,  June  30 

Chm.  -  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Robert  Nelson  (Ph:  784-4395) 

Co-Chm.  -  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Gary  Reitz  (Ph:  784-5826) 

ALL  DAY  Displays  &  Exhibits  -  Tent  Uptown 
Antique  Machinery  Display  -  South 
Park 

8:00-7:00      Antique  Flea  Market  -  Uptown 


INTRY  DAY  #1  continued 
Country  Store  -  Uptown.     Various 
organizations  will  be  selling  their 
homemade  items,  baked  goods,  etc. 
1:00  Small  Garden  Tractor  Pull  -  North 

Park 

Industrial  Tours  -  Cargiil,   Inc., 
Central  Soya ,  M  &  W  Gear  Co. , 
Electronic  Compnents  Corp.,  and 
the  Airport.    Schedules  will  be 
posted  at  City  Hall  and  Centennial 
Headquarters.    Bus  service  to  and 
from.    Everyone  must  use  the  tour 
buses,  no  individual  cars,  etc. 
allowed  at  these  businesses. 
7:15  Pre-Spectacie  Entertainment 

8:15  Premier  Performance  of  "Running  Deer 

to  Soaring  Planes" 

"TOWN  &  COUNTRY  DAY  #2" 

Thursday,  July  1 

Chm.  -  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Robert  Nelson  (Ph:  784-4395) 

Co-Chm.  -  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Ronald  Knapp  (Ph:  784-4378) 


Displays  &  Exhibits  -  Tent  Uptown 

Antique  Machinery  Display  -  South 

Park 

Antique  Flea  Market  -  Uptown 

Country  Store  cont.   -  Uptown 

Car  Polo  -  M  &  W  Gear  Co.  North 

lot  (Route  9  East) 

Industrial  Tours  to  be  continued 

Roast  Beef  Supper      l^orth  Park 

Pre-Spectacle  Entcudiiiment 

Second  Performance  of  "Running  Deer 

to  Soaring  Pl'.nes  ' 


ALL  DAY 

8:00-7:00 

9:00-5:00 

2:00 

5:30-7:30 

7:15 

8:15 

■LADIES  DAY" 

Friday,  July  2 

Chm .  -  Mr .  &  Mrs  . 


Lloyd  Taylor  (Ph:  749-2229) 


Special  Guest  for  the  Day  -  Betty  Fillip  of  WCIA-TV 


ALL  DAY 

8:00-7:00 
9:00-5:00 
10:00 

ii.on 

2;C0 


8:15 


Displays  &  Exhibits  of  interest  to 
women  -  Tent  Uptown 
Antique  Flea  Market  -  Uptown 
Country  Store  cont.  -  Uptown 
Boiiriet  Contest  -  Awards  -  Categories 
to  be  announced  -  Tent  Uptown 
Bread  ^Taking  Contest  -  Awards  - 
Details  to  be  announced  -  Tent  Uptown 
Style  S'pow  o!  1371  Fashions,  featuring 
winners  of  various  costume  awaids. 
first  Presbyterian  Church 
Ire-Spectacle  Entertainment 
Third  Performance  of  "Running  Deei 
to  Soaring  Planes" 


"FREEDOM  DAY" 
Saturday,  July  3 

10:30  Time  Capsule  Ceremonies 

2:00  THE  GIBSON  CITY  AREA  CENTENNIAL 

PARADE 

Chm.  -  Mr.  Harold  Johnson 

(Ph:  784-5985) 

The  parade  will  assembly  at  the 

Gibson  City  Athletic  Field  and  will 

disband  at  the  South  Park 
5:30- '':30      Chicken  Bar-B-Que  -  North  Park 
7:15  Pre-Spectacle  Entertainment 

8:15  Final  Performance  of  "Running  Deer 

to  Soaring  Planes" 

Giant  Fireworks  Display  will  follow. 


52 


'■    "Running  Deer  to  Soaring  Planes" 


^      1^      II  i>%      ii|<|i'    ii^<»      m^^|^      m  ^tlf  mmmt>t^mmKt^ifmmi0ltk'mmttt^fmmmi^ 


<M^ 


The  Gibson  City  Area  Centennial  Committee  proudly  presents. . . 


A  John  B.  Rogers  Production 
Directed  by  h  red  Illius 


Gibson  City  High  School  Athletic  Field 
June  SO -Julys 


Pre-show  7:30  P.M. 
Show  8 :15  P.M. 


.  In  the  event  of  inclement  weather,  or  that  four  episodes  of  the  "Running  Deer  to  Soaring  Planes"  follows  the  outline  of 
production  have  not  been  completed,  rain  stubs  will  be  history  of  the  city,  but  certain  additions  and  delitions  have 
honored  at  any  subsequent  scheduled  performance.  been  made  in  the  interest  of  total  dramatic  unitv 


^     iinflf   iii"i% 


i-^ 


^     II  ^     II  ^ 


"^ 


NARRATORS 
Dave  McNeeley  Marjorie  Clark 

William  S.  Middleton  Jean  Stocker 

Harold  Nelson  Ruby  Smith 

SCRIPT 
Kay  Meredith 

PROLOGUE  —  Naming  Drummer  Grove 

Grand  Entrance  "Happy  Birthday"  -  Meet  the  cast 


*m     ■!»      M I  Biiip 


EPISODE  ONE:  "Another  Time  Another  Man' 
EPISODE  TWO:  "The  Land  Beckons" 
EPISODE  THREE:  "The  Birth  of  a  Town" 
EPISODE  FOUR:  "Faith  on  the  Prairie" 
EPISODE  FIVE:  "A  Time  to  Learn" 


EPtSOOE  SIX:     Gibsoa  City  Grows" 
EPISODE  SEVEN:  "We  Move  into  our  Future" 
EPISODE  EIGHT:  "Oh  You  Kid" 
EPISODE  NINE:  "Battle  Cry" 
EPISODE  TEN:  "Our  Destination" 


Time:  1871  to  the  Present 
Centennial  Patrons 


McCord  Auto  Supply,   Inc. 

Montgomery  Ward,  Gibson  City,  111. 

Speers  "^hne  Repair 

SctiulzeSi  Burcti  Biscuit  Co.  ^  Flavor-  K  ist  Cracker  &  Cookies 

Gibson  United  Service,  Inc. 

Thipodore  Q.  Swanson,  O.D. 

Dr    James  Hartford 

Coast    To    Coast  Stores,  Gibson  City,  III. 

Gibson  Liquorette     Mel  and  Juanila  Yeats 

Oneal's  Auto  Repair 

H   E  Mulvany&  Son    Plljg.  &  Heat. 

Houtzel  Auto  Body  Shop 

Cfiief  City  Tobacco  Co. 

Prairie  Farms  Dairy  Inc. 

Hol'n  One  Donut  Co. 

Bethany  Mf    &  Sales  Co.,  Inc.,   Bethany,   IM 

McMahon  Distributors,  Ltd.,  Champaign,  III. 

Ryder  Truck  Rental 

Howard  Thomas  Gravel  Co. 

Comics  Shoe  Store 

Edson  L.   Etherton,  M.D. 

Dr.  Mark  R.  Foutch,  Optometrist 

Elkin's  Tourist  Home 

Sts'o  Farm  Insurance,  George  R.  Mattox,  Agent,  Elliott,  III 

Nl  Gas  Co. 

Noble  Bros 

Ropp's  Greenhouse 

Sibley  Complete  Feed  &  Grain  Service 


Jane  Burns  Dance  Studio 

The  Farmers  Gram  Comoanv 

Dr    Robert  D    Rankin,  Dentist 

Hoover  Jewelers 

W.  D.  Kreitzer  &  Son,  Elliott,  III. 

Lott's  Landing 

Bill  Hanson  Chev.  Buick,  Inc.,  Paxton,  III 

O'Neal  &  Batson  TV 

Ken  Rost  Ford  Inc. 

Arlens  Drug  Shop 

Arthur  R.  Benz,  Attorney 

Smith  Sand  &  Gravel 

Laurel  E    Pmg 

Bower  Automotive  Inc. 

Gambles 

Ace  Hardware 

Calhoun  Dairy  Inc. 

Cender  Gas  Company 

deMola  Florists 

L.  F    Swanson  &  Son 

Kemple  Insurance  Agency,  Inc. 

Western  Auto  Associate  Store 

The  Hessenhaus 

Friendly  Flower  Shop 

Middleton  &  Middleton 

Sky  work? 

Johnson  Auto  Repair 

Duggins  Electric 


53 


Gibson  City  Area  Centennial  Performing  Cast  -  Spectacle 


Brown,  Connie 
Colwell,  Thelma 
Parker,  Wilhelmina 
Ehresman,  Maria 
Schroeder,  Peg 
Schroeder,  Carol 
Kerchanfaut,  Dorothy 
Warsaw.  Bonnie 
Timm,  Mary 
Mizell.  Larry 
May,  Edward 
Hager.   Doug 
Hunt,  Jon 
Hawthorne,  K.  R. 
Helmick,  Loel 
Pierce,  O.  W. 
Cender,  Emery 
Hood,  Ron 
Hartford,  Tom 
Heideman,  Toni 
Heideman,  Betty 
Eddleman,   Kristy  Ann 
Johnson,  Kris 
Barrow,  Debbie 
Stolz,  Susan 
Main,   Bettie 
Kumler,  Joyce 
Rhodes,  Connie 
Sharp,  Michelle 
Bell,  Kay 
Arnold,  Raylene 
Smith,  Ruby 
Goodrich,  Edna 
Smith,  Robin 
Oliverio,  Mary  Ann 
Perkins,  Jimmie  Joan 
Oliverio,  Mary  Ann 
Schhckman,  Tena 


Smith,  Leah 
Bedel,  Claudia 
Blissard,  Barbra 
May,   Don 
Bane,  Charles 
Muters,  John 
Hall,  Tom 
Cook,  Wayne 
Perkins,  Wayne 
Goff,  Doug 
Benningfield,  John 
O'Neal,  Lorene 
Moore,  Margy 
Burton,   Patty 
Reitz,  Judy 
Kumler.   Ethel 
Hill,  Diane 
Anderson,   Doris 
Troyer,  Hazel 
Garard,  Lucille 
Rickey,  Alma 
Rickey,  Connie 
Nelson,   Elinor 
Braatz,  Debbie 
Nicholas,  Melissa 
Perkins,  Lorrie 
Retter,  Delora 
Johnson,  Sharon 
Knapp,  Marion 
Brooks,  Geneva 
Tompkins,  Mary 
Jones,  Virginia 
Johnson,  Leona 
Roesch,  Rick 
Brucker,  Jim 
Schlickman,  Dick 
Myers,   Phil 
Sledge,  Shorty 


Schlickman,  Dick 
Kingsley,  Mick 
Sisk,  Lucille 
Ehlers,  Glenda 
Ehlers.  Linda 
Reynolds,  Mae 
Loy,  Imogene 
Nickrent,  Marie 
Nelson.  Virginia 
Young.   Doris 
Nelson,  Sue 
Goodrich,  Percy 
Sfolz,  Peggy 
Nelson,  Dorie 
Kyle,  Nancy 
Young,  Fran 
Graff,  Patti 
Summers,  Jim 
Summers,  Mona 
Huston,  Howard 
Huston,  Yvonne 
Reiners,  George 
Reiners,  Beulah 
Bell,  Buzz 
Woodard,  Marie 
Leathers.  Evelyn 
Swearingen.  Mildred 
Borchers.  Ann 
Borchers.  Alice 
Brandt,  Carolyn 
Stocker,  Scott 
Knapp,  Kevin 
Knapp,  Mike 
Taylor,  Steve 
Knapp.  Mary 
Roesch,  Rick 
Brucker,  Jim 
Reynolds,  Francis 


Knapp,  Doug 
Stocker,  Frank 
Stocker,  Jean 
Taylor,  Mary  Ann 
Hill,  Jane 
Hill,  Bob 
Summers,  Bruce 
Gregerson.  David 
Heideman,  Brian 
Huston,   Dorothy 
Cullip,  Pauline 
Grider,  Gail 
Timm,  Jackie 
Fields,  Julie 
Long,  Bill 
Nelson,  DonaW 
Leisure,  June 
Hazen,  Edwin 
Hazen.  Mabel 
Miller.  Charles 
Miller,  Alvina 
Story,   Ruth 
Pruitt,  Earl 
Pruitt,  Marie 
Pruitt,  Sherrie 
Rhodes,  Carole 
Rhodes,  Don 
Rhodes,  Greg 
Rhodes,  Jan 
Jenson,  Don 
Jenson,  Janet 
Gregerson,  Richard 
Gregerson,  Margaret 
Gregerson.  David 
Samet,  Bob 
Leonard,  Evan 
Leonard,  Stanley 
Kingsley,  Mick 


Samet,  Dolly 
Cook,  Maxine 
Cook,  Pam 
Whitten,  Vandel 
Bedel,  Mary 
Bedel,  Delmar 
Summers,  John 
Summers,  Helen 
Brooks,  Cindy 
Bedel,  Claudia 
Berger,  Paul 
Berger,  Quida 
Hayse,  Annimary 
Hayse,  Ronald 
Davis,  Cecil 
Davis,  Lillie 
Benson,  Martha 
Benson.  John 
Kroon,  Cathy 
Lunde.  Julie 
Johnson,  Ellen 
Kumler,  Jane 
Taylor,  Kim 
Mariage,  Teresa  M. 
Strebeck,  Susie 
Nagle,  Dave 
Summers,  Brenda 
Crowley,  Julie 
Smith,  Patty 
Smith,  Robin 
Olivero,  Marianne 
Horsch.   Dorothy 
Cender.  Sharal 
Cender,  Charlene 
Kelley,  Lois 
Taylor,  Jack 
Woodward.  Charlie 
Barrow,  Dick 


Hager,  Doug 
Cross,  Herman 
Huron,   Kim 
Jensen,  Sandy 
Smith,  Chris 
Herrin,  Lorrie 
Ferguson,  Anne 
Thompson,  Treva 
Morano,  Maria 
Gesell,  Caria 
Jenson,  Julie 
Howard,  Laurie 
Timm.   Lori 
Herrin,   Kitty 
Evans,  Lynda 
Williams,  Susie 
Culbertson,  Sherry 
Osborn,  Homer 
Osborn,  Helen 
Smith,  Maurita 
Smith,  Christin 
Hill,  CarIa 
Nunamaker,  Sharon 
Garard,  Jerry 
Clark,  Pat 
Clark,  Mary 
Rhodes,  Jan 
Jones,  Peggy 
Orr,  Jann 
Jackson,  Peggy 
Lunde,  Patty 
Smith,   Robin 
Kyle,  Sally 
Parker,  Doria 
Parker,  Joy 
Perkins,  Jerrie  Lynn 
Barrow,  Tom 
Romine,  Ronnie 


PATRONS  TICKETS 


Beulah   Builta 

Mrs    Helen  Foster  Kelley 

Mr    and  Mrs    Wm.   Schnittker 

Mr    and  Mrs.  Raymond  Green 

Raymond  N.   Holm 

Charles  F.  Hamm 

Mr    and  Mrs.  James  A,  Taylor 

t^r    and  Mrs.  Wesley  Brownlee 

Charles  Builta 

Carl  Hedlund 

Mr.  and  Mrs.   Lloyd  R.   Johnson  &  Mark 

C.  A.  T    Johnson 

D    E    Craig 

Mrs    Harry   Baker 

Milton   Kelly 

Emery   P,   Cender 

Jones  Motor  Sales  by  Eva  B.  Jones 

Mr    and  Mrs,   Dike   Eddleman 

Chester  Burton 

Mr    and  Mrs    W    P    Loy 

Lester  R.  Moody 

Darlene  Tucker 

Mr    and  Mrs.  Tom   Hunt 

Laura   Hanley 

Mrs    F     N     Bryant 

Mark  Hobart 

Larry   Fawver 

Mr    and  Mrs.   Richard   Reinhart 

Mrs.  Mae  Helmick 

Mr    and  Mrs.  Howard  Hutchcraft 

Jack  Dubois 

Mr    and  Mrs.  Jerry  L.  Holsten 

Vernon  Wilson 

James  F.  Thompson 

Evelyn  M.  Thompson 

Norma  J    Thompson 

Charles  p    Thompson 

Rickie  D    Thompson 


Harold  Gilbert 

Cornelius  Ropp 

Dick  Moody 

Mrs.  Lori  Reynolds 

Jean  S,  Hall 

Iris  Archibald 

E    Clinton  Conrad 

Mrs,  Charlotte  Dozier 

Susan  Padgett 

Mrs.  Verle  Kramer 

David  Kramer 

Norma  Kramer 

Mike  Kramer 

Mark  Kramer 

Lisa   Kramer 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  F.  Swanson 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harold  Rhodes 

Tony  Lewis 

Mr    John  Andersen 

Mr.  Dave  Nagle 

Mr.  and  Mrs    Warren  Nally 

Mrs,  Rose  Tjarks 

James  E  and  Laura  Miller 

Mr    and  Mrs.  Elmo  Meiners 

Paul  W,  Sunderland 

Mrs,  Gordon  Essington 

Mr.  Richard  Strebeck 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  Edmund  Cameron 

Mrs.  J.  L.   Finn 

William  S.  Middleton 

Mr    and  Mrs.  Roy  Main 

Mr    Frank  Denne 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clarence  Ringler 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tracy  Shields 

Paul   Johnson 

Rudy  Ahrens 

Mr    Larry  Strebeck 

Maurine  Haines 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weldon  Hansen 

Dr.  James  Hartford 

A.   J,  McKinney 

Mrs.  Jean  Stocker 

Mrs.  Richard  Strebeck,  Sr. 

Mr.  Richard  Strebeck,  Sr. 

Mrs.  Eldon  Thorndyke 

Alice  Ogg 

Edward  W.  Ogle 

Maurine  Ogle 

Guy  Ogle 

Cecil  Ogle 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elmo  Meiners 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard  R.  Bennett  8.  Jim 

Mrs.  Rubie  Bane 

Mr.  Robert  Strebeck 

Leslie  E    Mulvany 

Jim's  Furniture  Mart 

R.  L.  Jordan 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arlen  B.  Reynolds  &  Michelle 

Dr.  A.  L.   DeMola 

Leonard  Y.  Bennett 

Clarice  Bennett 

Mr.  John  E.  Anderson,  Jr. 

Mrs.  Beverly  Anderson 

Glenn  V.  Rutledge 

Irene  J.  Rutledge 

Gerald   Rudolph 

Mr    and  Mrs.  Tom  Tucker 

Mrs    Imogene  Smith 

W.  Tom  Francis 

Helen  Francis 

Tom  Francis  Jr. 

Debbie  Francis 

Connie  Brown 

Ernest  E    Brown 


54 


We  regret  the  omission  of  any  names  and  any  incorrect  spelling  due  to  the  earlv 
deadline  for  this  publication. 


Gibson  City  Area  Centennial 


NOVELTIES  COMMITTEE      George  Kuntz 


CELEBRATION   DANCES  COMMITTEE 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Royal 

f^r.  and  Mrs.  Jim  Jensen 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  R    H.  Carlson 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Larry  Ricks 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Hutchcraft 

Mr    and  Mrs.  Rictnard   Kemple 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harold  Davis 


Loel  Jordan 


CONCESSIONS  COMMITTEE 
Darren  Volker 
Ted  Swanson,  Jr. 
Dick  Jardine 


Frank  Stocker 


PARTICIPATION    DIVISION 

LADIES  CHAIRWOMAN      Marge  Barry 

MEN'S  CHAIRMAN      Robert   P.    Boyce 

BROTHERS  OF  THE   BRUSH      Gene  Jotinson 

Ted  Swanson 

Darrell  Volker 

Frank  Stocker 

Ron  Sheppard 

Harold  Knowles 

Darrell  Riblet 

George  Kuntz 

Larry  Fawver 

Jim  Miller 

Ken  Fackler 

Bill   Fouts 
MEN'S  HATS  AND  TIES     Tom  Hartford 
KANGAROO  KOURT  COMMITTEE      Dwain   Parker 

Ed   Rtiodes 

Harold  Ttiomas 

Larry   Ricks 

Ivan  Sloat 

Garland  Craig 

Jim  Summers 

Tony  Heideman 

Ron  Stieppard 

Russell  Sctimidt 

Jerry  Garard 

Homer  Osborn 

Dave  Yates 

Dike  Eddleman 

Howard  Ehresman 

Patricia  Clark 

Chief  Harry  Anderson 
CELEBRATION    BELLES   COMMITTEE       Maria    Etiresman 


SPECTACLE  DIVISION      Glenn  Meredithi 

SCENARIO  AND  TITLE  COMMITTEE 
Betty  Hunt      Ctiairman 
Dr    Chester  Chandler      Co  Chairman 
Evelyn  Dueringer 
Rosemary  Schertz 
Sibyl  Middleton 
Chloe   Barrow 
Bess  Johnson 
Valeria  Hunt 
William  Middleton 
Jon  Hunt 

Mary  Volden    (did  all  copy  work  on  original  history) 
PROPERTIES  COMMITTEE      Homer  Osborn 

STAGE  HANDS  COMMITTEE      Glenn  Meredith 


Fred  lllius      Rogers  Company 


Bob  Duggins 


AND     DRESSES    COMMITTEE 


LADIES'     SUNBONNETS 
Marie  Pruitt 
Phyllis  Cliff 
Sue  Pruitt 


PROMENADE  &  CARAVAN  COMMITTEE      Orren  Pierce 
SPECTACLE  TICKET  DIVISION      Jim  Thompson 
TICKET  COMMITTEE      Ron  Meiners 

PATRONS  TICKET  COMMITTEE      Fern  Carroll 
Margaret  Anderson 
Phyllis  Anderson 
Marcia  Wright 
Virginia  Ricks 
Esther  McClure 
Gretchen  Nelson 
Donna  Harms 
Imogene  Smith 

ADVANCE   SALE  COMMITTEE      Teddy  Eddleman 

NOMINATIONS  COMMITTEE  CHRMN      Sherri  Fawver 
AWARDS  COMMITTEE  CHRMN.      Valeria  Hunt 
ARRANGEMENTS  COMMITTEE   CHRMN 

Janet  Noble 

Co  CHRMN         Mrs.  Ruth  Bucher 

Helen  Francis 

Malinda  Bradford 

Helen  Day 

Dwanna  McCall 

Gere  Walter 

Pauline  Fuoss 
USHERS  AND  GATES  COMMITTEE 

Dave  Herron  &  Tom  Fisher 

Boy  Scouts 
AUDIENCE    AREA      AND    GROUNDS    COMMITTEE 

Warren  Brown 


CAST   COMMITTEE 
Lil  Fisher 
Jane  Burns 
CONSTRUCTION   COMMITTEE 
Andy  Sommer 
Paul  Mooney 
Tom  Shubert 
Weldon  Hansen 
Glenn  Meredith 
Bill  Gifford 
Jr    Gifford 
Jim  Taylor 
Lawrence  Comer 
Richard  (Snook)  Jordan 
Jean  Pearson 
James  Sommer 
Virgil  Rhodes 
COSTUMES  COMMITTEE      Mary  Ann  Volker 
'  Leigh   Ann   Bowen 
Cathy  Garard 
Sharon  Luedde 
Jo  Swanson 
Marsha  Riddle 
PUBLICITY  DIVISION      James  Miller 

PRESS   RELEASE  COMMITTEE      Joyce  Wilson 
Kay  Bell 
DISTRIBUTIVE  COMMITTEE      Mary  Hansen 
RADIO  AND  T  V    COMMITTEE      Laura  Miller 

SPEAKERS  COMMITTEE      Karen  Smith 

SPECIAL   PROJECTS  COMMITTEE      Marilyn  Williams 

SPECIAL   EVENTS  DIVISION      Ruby  Smith      Chairman 

Lillian  Fisher    Co    chairman 
MERCHANTS  COMMITTEE 

Mrs.   Frances  Reynolds      Ray  Petersen 

PARADES  COMMITTEE      Harold  Johnson 

Russell  Douglas 

Robert  Leisure 

Lee  Barry 

Civil  Defense 

Police  Department 
TRAFFIC  AND  SAFETY  COMMITTEE 

Ray  Bierman  •  Civil  Defense 

Ken  Curtis 

Russell  Ehlers 

Gene  Rankin 

Charlie  Dreidame 

Frank  Hendricks 

Leonard  Bennett 

Richard  Bennett 

Harry  Ricks 

Harold  Johnson 

Bob  Duggins 

Jack  Walton 

t^d%  Hoover 

Bruce  Cothern 
PIONEER  EVENT  COMMITTEE      Georgianna  Johnson 

HISTORICAL  WINDOWS  COMMITTEE 

Lois  Rhodes      Dwanna  McCall 
MUSIC  COMMITTEE      Agnes  Simms 

TRANSPORTATION   COMMITTEE      Ken  Rost 
HOSPITALITY  CENTER  COMMITTEE      Clarice  Braatz 

Betty  Grafton 

Cadette  Girl  Scouts 
TIME  CAPSULE      Larry  Ricks 


55 


Gibson  City  Belle  Chapters 


LITTLE  SHAVERS 

LITTLE  SHAVERS  Mike  Stroh,  Kim 
Baity,  Richard  Horsch,  Chris  Smith,  Tim 
Smith,  Eric  Ensign,  Ricky  Erickson, 
Chucky  Erickson,  Arnold  Hunt,  Robert 
Scott  Nickrent,  Richard  Patrick  Nally, 
Joe  Thomas,  Barry  Meers,  Tim  Meers, 
Kevin  KnaDO,  Mike  Knapp,  Mickey 
Taylor,  Mark  Brownley,  Tim  Ricks,  Brad 
Sprau,  Robbie  Williams,  Peter  Wohelski, 
Jeff  Bradbury,  Eric  Timm,  Bryan 
Donner,  Mark  Andreae,  Karn  Long, 
Dennis  Stange,  Darren  Hester,  Vince 
Hester,  Craig  Patton,  Tom  Litwiller,  Rod 
LitwiMer,  Todd  Sommer,  Scott  Yeates, 
Robbie  Hix,  Brad  Tompkins,  Allen  Lee 
Wilkins,  Jon  Lee  Clark,  Don  Traister, 
David  Traister,  William  Brokate. 


SMOOTHIES 

Henry  Sievers,  E.  H.  DeArms,  Vernie 
Martin,  David  Gill,  Tom  Meers,  Lee 
Barry,  Howard  Ehresman,  Earl  Pruiff, 
Don  Douglas,  Roger  Birky,  T.  L. 
Auterman,  C.  F.  Robertson,  William 
Bryant,  Sherman  Bowan,  Charles  Bowan, 
Charles  Van  Holland,  Joe  Brooks, 
Richard  W,  Strebeck,  Sr,,'Orville  Hardy, 
Floyd  Noland,  Scott  Miller,  Deret 
Moxley,  Laacp  Moxley,  Karry  Kistner, 
Eddie  Lambert;  Richard  Davis,  Roger 
Smith,  Steve  Mullvain,  Ken  Sprau,  Lester 
Anderson,  Stanley  Wisegarner,  John  R, 
Noble,  Weldon  Hanson,  Ken  Meredith, 
Frank  Oliviero,  Andrew  J.  Anderson, 
Alva  Osman,  Fred  Friend,  Albert 
Schantz,  W  L  Barnhart,  John  A  Burns, 
F.  E  Walker,  Jake  Cramer,  O.  H, 
Saathoff,  Jack  Branson,  Bill  BullQifk, 
Paul  Sunderland,  Gene  Gregory,  Arnold 
Luedde,  C  M  Gray,  Bernard  Finis,  Virgil 
Stewart,  Gene  Williams,  Fred  Carroll, 
Roy  Quinn,  Charles  Letter,  John  Webb, 
Laurel  Ping,  Fred  Huston,  Merle 
Brokate,  Melvin  Rippel,  W  C  Munson, 
Loren  Bane,  M  L  Utterback,  Harold 
Bonnen.  H.  H.  Palmer,  Alvin  C.  Koon, 
Kenneth  Karr,  William  Becker,  Joe 
Kolross,  Melvin  Yeats,  Clayton  Gramley, 
Ora  Ferguson,  Lynch,  Joe  Nunnick,  Roy 
Schlickman,  Jim  Mitchell,  Henry  May, 
Percy  Goodrich,  Emery  Trover,  Harlan 
Arens,  Stanley  W  Davis,  Robert  Taylor, 
Dale  Moxley,  William  Smith,  Dick 
Kemple,  Ernest  Schroeder,  Lewis  Birky, 
Bud  Reynolds,  Harm  J.  Baker,  Ernest  W. 
Ogg,  Don  Patton,  Rick  Goben,  Richard  D, 
Barnes,  William  Zimmerman,  Lloyd 
Brokate,  Jack  Fleck,  S.  Stephens,  Eugene 
Swearingen,  Earl  Pruitt,  Ray  Oglesby, 
Howard  Hutchcraft,  Walter  H,  Arends, 
Bill  Arends,  Steve  Arends,  Robert  E. 
Birkey,  Glenn  Hart,  Larry  Darnall, 
Denny  Troyer,  William  A.  Loveless, 
Bobbie  Martin,  Cecil  F.  Mott,  Nelson  C 
Sommer,  James  E  Ross,  Walter  Taylor, 
Robert  McMahon,  Edwin  Hazen,  William 
C    DeWall,  Jr    and  Warren  Nally 


BROTHERS  OF  THE  BRUSH 

BEARDED     MANY  Robert      Boyce, 

Robert  Leisure,  Mark  Craig,  Lyie  Ptoff, 
Don  Erickson,  Bob  Hutchcraft,  Jerry 
Girard,  Dtan  Files,  Glen  Davis,  Doug 
Hager,  Jim  Hager,  Bob  Grossman,  O.  F. 
Reis  and  George  L.  Moody. 

TREE  BEES  Morris  Fox,  Donald  T. 
Kincade,  L.  DeWayne  Grafton,  Thomas 
F.  Fisher,  Henry  E  Brickman,  Gerald  K. 
Revenaugh,  Glenn  A  Richard,  Robert  E. 
Peeken.  David  K,  Kaiser,  Charles  D. 
Jensen,  Wayne  A  Rittenhouse.  Paul  V. 
Howard,  William  L.  Everett,  Steven  R 
Dickey  and  D    Glenn  Roop. 


COFFEE  DRINKERS  Garland  Craig, 
Albert  Bode,  W.  C.  Bryant,  Michael 
Wilson,  Gerald  M.  Osborn,  Clyde  Day, 
Ronald  Osborn,  Homer  Osborn,  Jerry 
Garard,  Frank  E,  Fox,  Dave  Hooran, 
Stanley  W  Davis,  Earl  Edmonds  and  Bud 
Reynoldes. 

BROTHERS  OF  THE  BRUSH  Bruce 
Girken,  Homer  Osborn,  James  Jackson, 
George  Stevens,  Doug  Knapp,  Bud  O- 
Neal,  Michael  Wilson,  Steve  Ort,  Clyde 
Cokely,  Bobby  Welborn,  Richie  Swaim, 
James  Hudson,  Charles  Dewey,  Martin 
Meyer,  Howard  Moore,  Loel  Jordan, 
Robert  Duggins,  Albert  Bode,  Frank 
Hunt,  Jr.,  Ivan  Andreae,  Herb  Persons, 
Sr,,  Micheal  Wilson,  Lester  Lammie, 
Steve  Case,  Ed  Cameron,  Robert 
Bradbury,  Don  Nelson,  James  Price, 
Clyde  Day,  Charles  Woolward,  Glen 
Rutledge,  David  Nagle,  Frank  Fox,  Glenn 
Meredith,  Russell  Coulter,  Richard 
Horsch,  Thomas  Mulony,  Tom  Davis, 
Paul  Mooney,  Harold  W.  Underwood, 
Gary  Hoover,  James  Johnson,  Harold 
Thomas,  Vince  Fogarty,  Vernon  Ralston, 
George  Barr,  Larry  Johnson,  Paul 
Verkler,  Lynn  Bowen,  Warren  Clark, 
Charles  R.  Crowley,  Earl  Edmonds, 
Lester  Vinson,  Michael  AMen,  Floyd 
Brotherton,  John  Kerchenfaut,  David  B. 
Kramer,  Ramon  Rankin,  Tom  Tucker, 
Bill  Lindsay,  Delmar  Schantz  ,  R.  H. 
Hutcherson  and  Robert  L.  Seelye. 


BELLES  AKD  LITTLE  MISS  BELLES 

Charlotte  Clark,  Margaret  Emiy,  Patt> 
Emiy,  Edna  Van  Scoyoc,  Alice  Larrison, 
Melody  Peeken,  Norma  Jean  Thompson, 
Barbara  Bouldrey,  Alice  M.  Loveless, 
Susan  McElfresh,  Barb  Tucker,  Marjorie 
Clark,  Margee  Ernst,  Marge  Ernst, 
Arlene  Strebeck,  ^haron  Stroh,  Patricia 
Wagner,  Vicky  Lindsay,  Sharon  Johnson, 
Lottie  Hutcherson,  Mary  Jo  Main,  Beckie 
Wieborg,  Bobbi  Benningfield,  Tammy 
Preston,  Debbie  Preston,  Anna  Riggs, 
Mary  Ann  Ricks,  Marilyn  Zander,  Diane 
Hill,  Mrs,  Gene  Rankin,  Neva  Rankin, 
Lucille  Robertson,  B6rnia  Worley,  Velma 
Taylor,  Kathy  Taylor,  Sheri  Bryant,  Mrs. 
Sherman  Bornen,  Mrs,  Charles  Bornen, 
Mrs,  Virginia  Ricks,  Mrs.  Gail  Kincade, 
Mona  Van  Antwerp,  Lucille  Fawnsworth, 
Donna  Hoffman,  June  Leisure,  Pat 
Everett,  Gladys  Marcellus,  Jean  Hoff 
man,  Karen  Long,  Virginia  Underwood, 
Dorothy  Bridgewater,  Joane  Schroeder, 
Julie  Anne  Sprau,  Helen  McAfee,  Agnes 
Sloth,  Barbara  Leisure,  Katharine  K. 
Moody,  Carol  Leisure,  Wilma  Crowe, 
Cynthia  Crowe,  Candace  Crowe,  Virginia 
Bradley,  Gladys  Fasking,  Becky  Ricks, 
Pat  Clark,  Maria  Young,  Helen  Osborn, 
Alvina  Miller,  Peggy  Fields,  Holly  Tripp, 
Loretta  Kyson,  Judy  Glascock,  Sylvia 
Smith,  Pat  Schoolcraft,  Ruby  Bennett, 
Grace  Bond,  Debbie  Brooks,  Dorothy 
Brooks,  Grace  Thorndyke,  Leta  M. 
Strebeck,  Mabel  Teter,  Marilyn  Shields, 
Kathleen  Sarah  Shields,  Leora  Shields, 
Mabel  Gandy,  Barbara  Cokeley,  Mrs. 
Stroh,  Charlotte  Nelson,  Florence  Roop, 
Lola  Reynolds,  Eva  Mae  Long,  Wilma 
Sommer,  Leanoir  Null,  Hilda  Mott,  Hope 
Gackay,  Donna  Hansen,  Janet  Clements, 
Marge  Bod«,  Debbie  Johnson,  Leiia  A. 
Cender,  Violet  Peeken,  Margaret  Nelson, 
Katrina  Dewey,  Florene  Knab,  Helen 
Kemple,  Janet  Stocker,  Lorene  Raper, 
Bessie  Oakley,  Pat  Lambert,  Lillia> 
Deason,  Gladys  Dow,  Mary  Lange, 
Margy  Moore,  Ida  Mustafa,  Sybil 
Kramer,  Alyce  Preston,  Lillian  Hardy, 
lleane  Miller,  Doretta  Johnson,  Jodi 
Miller,    Shannon    Miller,    Helen    Schmidt 


Mrs.  Hutchison,  Carolyn  Moxley,  Carol 
Schroeder,  Barb  Williams,  Jessie  Davis, 
Blance  Andrews,  Leona  Hartford,  Mary 
Ann  Taylor,  Dorothy  Shellman,  Shirley 
Reynolds,  Pat  Marten,  Sharon  Rigby, 
Bonnie  Byerly,  Shelia  Wittaker,  Flora 
Price,  Phyllis  Chambliss,  Judy  Reitz, 
Sherry  Reitz,  Vicky  Rietz,  Vil  Anderson, 

Sharon  Yates,  Laura  Sawyer,  Marie 
Campbell,  Hilda  Preston,  Elsie  H.  Barr, 
Frances  Retter,  Delora  Lynn  Retter, 
Betty  Bradbury,  Sally  Rohn,  Ellen 
Frieburg,  Martha  Fasking,  Mildred 
Forrest,  Mrs.  W  A.  Dusola,  Janallee 
Noble,  Violet  Taylor,  Julia  McGuire, 
Cheryl  Hester,  Eita  Craig,  Nancy 
Olivero,  Wilma  Duggins,  Gesina  Nelson, 
Mrs.  Osman,  Hazel  Archibald,  Grace 
Hanley,  Cindy  Hanley,  June  Ogg,  Georgia 
Page,  Wilma  Andreae,  Betty  Hunt,  Sherri 
Fawver,  Carol  King,  Helen  Cornelison, 
Louise  Schantz,  Thelma  Arobus,  Thelma 
Persons,  Laurie  Persons,  Mona  Sum- 
mers, Elvera  Sheppleman,  Betty  Vinson, 
Claudia  Strebeck,  Beverly  Arnold, 
MariorieMiller,  Linda  Livingston,  Carole 
Netherton,  Jane  Burns,  Betty  Sallee, 
Mary  Lou  Kelley,  Mabel  Martens, 
Thelma  Brook,  Marjorie  Lowry,  Bertha 
Morris,  Mrs.  Roy  Boyd,  Catherine  Kin- 
cade, lla  Spry,  Susie  Branson,  Betty 
Keath,  Laverne  Johnson,  Laura  Hanley, 
Mrs.  Edgar  Cullip,  June  Stange, 
Margaret  Harding,  Ruby  Lange,  Carol 
Bullock,  Mildred  Sunderaind,  Evelyn 
Lange,  Wilma  Tandy,  Linda  Page,  Alice 
Shields,  Dorothy  Shields,  Rose  Ann 
Hardwick,  Kathy  Bond,  Berandine 
Bryant,  Ruth  Oglesby,  Bessie  Price, 
Mabel  Kend«r,  Rose  Day,  Virginia 
Williams,  Sharia  Williams,  Liz  Hanson, 
Janet  Hanson,  Kathryn  Dreidane, 
Beverly  Arnold,  Melba  Quinn,  Shirley 
Jackson,  Nancy  Main,  Mrs.  Lester  An- 
derson, Karen  Doman,  Wanda  Austle, 
Hazel  Gandy,  Marica  Walker,  Betty 
Grider,  Edie  Grider,  Gail  Grider,  Mrs. 
Glen  Rutledge,  Alta  Waggoner,  Mae 
Gardner,  Annette  Matthew,  Gladys 
Smock,  Barbara  Leisure,  Lorette  Bode, 
Terry  Fox,  Lois  Friese,  Joyce  Wilson, 
Mrs.  Walker,  Mrs.  Merle  Brokate,  Ina 
Lund,  Lorrenne  Zick,  Ethel  M.  Arm 
strong,  Anna  Johnson,  Ethel  Munson, 
Hazel  Mooney,  Mrs.  Albert  Wilson, 

Thelma  Colwell,  Pauline  Busby, 
Beverley  Coons,  Helen  Kelley,  Imogene 
Graff,  Ellen  Johrrson,  Mrs.  Johnson, 
Evelyn  Hendrickson,  Ana  Taylor,  Sandra 
Dial,  Helen  Hill,  Geneva  Lindsey,  Mae 
Brading,  Diana  Coulter,  Beverly 
Conover,  Francis  Kollross,  Gloria 
Carlson,  Clara  Mae  Gramley,  Wilhelmina 
Parker,  Annetta  Seamonds,  Ruth  Ann 
Williams,  Christine  Ferguson,  Mrs. 
Lynch,  Barb  Cavinder,  Elaine  Collett, 
Fern  May,  Mary  Eckhoff,  Mrs  Richard 
Horsch,  Eileen  Randolph,  Joyce  Goff, 
Gretchen  Nelson,  Mrs.  Emery  Troyer, 
Mrs.  Harold  Medler,  Diana  Ceilings, 
Margaret  Blissard,  Berenice  Crowley, 
Ellen  Crowley,  Genieve  Fogies,  Emma 
Ann  Davis,  Menola  Donner,  Mrs.  Robert 
Taylor,  Bessie  Moxley,  Lora  Brown,  Lucy 
Ruck,  Lil  Anderson,  Marie  Hohn,  Linda 
Lynch,  Mary  Lou  Kyle,  Marlene  Walkers, 
Kathy  Smith,  Pauline  Ort,  Verona 
Thomas,  Anna  Martin,  Mrs.  Hildur 
Johnson,  Mrs  Russel  Martin.  Mrs. 
Wayne  Perkins,  Ruth  Swanson,  Mrs  Sam 
Doman,  Madelon  Girkin,  Ruth  Loy,  Carol 
Barry,  Helen  Tate,  Hope  Zachary,  Eva 
^f\ae  Loy,  Wilma  Sommers,  Leanoir  Null, 
Hilda  Mott,  Bessie  Rasmussen,  Mrs. 
Roger  Birkey,  Sherri  Birkey,  Laurie 
Birkey,  Mrs.  Don  Smith,  Tina  Baumen, 
Juda  Baumen.  Beverly  Fight,  Edna 
Auterman,  Dorothy  Tinicke,  Leona 
Evans,  Susan  Ivans,  Gert  Friese,  Delores 


56 


Friese,  Anna  Jardine,  Jean  Jardine, 
Esther  Sparks,  Mrs  Bob  Hill,  Beulah 
Oneal,  Gertrude  Hutcticraft,  Maxine 
Arends,  Nellie  Hudson,  Lisa  Moore, 
Kattiryn  Cameron,  Ann  Gale,  Pearl  Gale. 
Linda  Gardner,  uariene  Harper,  Barbara 
Rafferty,  Evelyn  Puis,  Stiirkey  Peeken, 
Ann  Hall,  Marlene  Shreves,  Dorothy  M. 
Gilmore,  Willa  Hart,  Topy  Wierzoriek, 
Lena  Smith,  Frances  Bonnen,  Carolee 
Cook,  Dorothy  Smith,  Carmen  Karr,  Mrs. 
George  E.  Smart,  Janite  K.  Barnes, 
Dorothy  Barnes  Betty  Brokate,  Betty 
Schroeder,  Eana  Hudson,  Mrs  Freddie 
Fogarty,  Fredda  Gamley,  Pauline  Mott, 
Mrs  Raymond  Repp,  Betty  Oneal,  Mrs. 
Percy  Goodrich,  Mrs  Ivan  Brucker, 
Betty  Copher,  Margaret  Copher,  Daisy 
Darnall.  Deana  Johnson,  Mrs.  Joyce 
Lange,  Anita  Houran,  Virginia  Kingsley, 
Mrs  Dav.o  Mott,  .Mrs  Willis  J  Sommer, 
Lucille  Garard,  Lielores  Walker,  Dorothy 
Suntken  Bermce  Hustedt,  Betty  Meiners, 
Linda  Walker,  Linda  Hunt,  Evelyn 
Byerline,  Bonnie  Rutledge,  Ella  Speedie, 
Mrs.  Herb  Smith,  Mary  Loveless,  Marsha 
Lage,  Bertha  Mott,  Jennie  Quinley,  Sarah 
Tabbs,  Eva  Steinberg,  Judy  A.  Prehn, 
Marie  Whaiion,  Loretia  wooaward.  Rose 
Marie  Birkey    Charlotte  Clark, 

Laurie  Bradbury,  Connie  Rickey, 
Connie  Frieburg,  Kristin  Mc  Guire, 
Sherrie  Culbertson,  Daria  Forrest,  Lori 
Timm,  Prudence  Donner,  Christine 
Donner,  Janie  Andreae,  Karen  Long, 
Beth  Fawver, 

Beth  HutchcrafI,  Loi  i  Hu< 
chcraft,  Carole  Netherton,  Pafti  Yeats, 
Barb  Barry,  Mildred  Shaner.  Ire.i- 
Sti.veis  Diana  Hester,  Shelley  Rowclitt 
McK.ne  Brock,  Laura  Hix,  Linda  Hunt, 
Jan  Hunt,  Venessa  Taylor,  i_orrie 
Perkins,  Vonda  Coulter  Sherri  A/.i.Rit, 
Robin  Smith,  Anna  Sievers,  Tif'ani 
Sommer,  -sAaigy  V^alker,  Lisa  Walker, 
.lerrie  Perkins,  Brenda  Crrssman,  V/ilson 
jirls,  Cindy  Dial,  Lola  Williains,  Vicky 
Williams,  Julia  Tompkins,  I  isa  Tom 
JKins,  Angle  Eckhoff,  Julia  Crowley, 
Kristie  Sue  Mckrent,  Shannon  Marie 
i-znch,  Terry  McCarthy,  Delene  Riblet, 
Roberta  May,  Tami  Brokate, 
Charlotte  Tubbs,  Alice  Tubb".,  Carta 
Gesell,  Sherrie  Pruitt,  Tenna  Clift,  Keria 
Riblet,  Kathy  Riblet,  Mubelle  Lee 
Johnson,  Patty  Lange,  Kelly  Tapscott, 
Kim  Tapscott. 

CENTENNIAL  BELLE  CHAPTERS 

SUNBONtJET     sues  Jennie     Allen, 

Jiana  Acree,  Mar,-  Sommer,  Ann 
rolne.  n,  Phyliis  Brickman,  Marie 
deckel,  Gladys  Arnola,  Velva  Acree, 
v^ai  .a  irhlick,  Betty  Perry,  Serita  Allen, 
Wi  garet  •  .-  "  ijret  Brandt,  Pat 
-  eiJs,   K;  .".arlena    Deasor, 

zu.  na  An         "■  a  Wicks,  DeLoris 

c.nay,  Ljneii  boroeis,  Janice  Mills, 
Aary  Me -ers,  Florence  Wright,  Ruby 
-icr',  Evtiyn  Fawver,  Phyllis  Acree, 
Ann  D'inlap,  Cindy  Shaw,  Laritt  Reynols, 
Tarr.'i.  Allen,  Juanita  Yeats,  Paula 
Yeats,  Virginia  Mouser,  Reba  McGuire, 
E.  Standley,  Bernice  Singer,  Dorothy 
Oakes,  Alice  Acree,  Betty  Trhlick  and 
Vera  Marcellus. 

GUTHRIE  BELLES  Evelyn  Leathers, 
Doris  Rutledge,  Mildred  Swearingen, 
Cecilia  Anderson,  Rose  Tjarks,  Daisy 
Brownlee,  Alma  Richey,  Betty  Ralston, 
Anna  Borchers,  Irene  Meyers,  Ann 
Holsten,  Myrrle  Borchers,  Bess  Johnson, 
Hilda  Blum,  Gertrude  Marcellus,  Marie 
Oodson,  Hazel  Enghausen,  Kathryn 
Cameron,  Carolyn  Brandt,  Mabel  Welsh, 
Elizabeth  Colwell,  Alice  Borchers,  Mabel 
Hazen,  Lucille  Piatt,  Louise  Swearingen, 
Laura  Steinhelper,  Ginga  Blizzard, 
Marcia  Leathers,   Mary   Beth  Leathers, 


Gibson  City  Belle  Chapters 

Ethel  Ulfers  ana  janice  Bond. 

LIBERATED  DING  A  LINGS  —  Kay 
Bell,  Betty  Heideman,  Judy  Reitz, 
Beverly  Hendricks,  Christine  Hazen,  Lil 
Fisher,  Nancy  Timm,  Anna  Marie 
Taylor,  Liz  Hansen,  Jackie  Curtis,  Betty 
Knapp,  Cheryl  Fox,  Doria  Parker,  Linda 
Persons,  Viola  Finis,  Mildred  Perkins, 
Doris  Arnold,  Kathy  Carpenter,  Mary 
Lou  Miller,  Ruby  Smith  and  Wilma 
Swanson. 


FASHION  RFLLES  Linda  Sprau, 
Virginia  Underwood,  Aileen  Unouiwood, 
Margaret  O'Neal,  LaVonne  Moody,  Mary 
Jane  Patton,  Mary  Carroll  Hansen, 
Delorice  B3ity,  Thelma  Young,  Marge 
Kreiter,  Deanna  Saver,  Marge  Peters  and 
Pam  Jordan 

B  &  P  W  DOLLS  Donna  Harms,  Doris 
Anderson,  Leta  Z.  Hay,  Er.na  Hoover, 
Carol  Hutcncraii,  Phyllis  Anderson, 
Leona  Johnson,  Phyliss  Leonard,  Hazel 
Troyer,  Marinell  Jones,  Vivian  Comer, 
Geneva  Brooks,  Margaret  Anderson, 
Mildred  McQuiggan,  Rena  Wiles,  Fern 
Carroll,  Juanita  Boyce,  Marilyn  Riblet, 
Virginia  Ryan,  Genevieve  Nickrent, 
Pauline  Brooks,  Imogene  Swarm,  Vauna 
Jones,  Sharon  Jones,  Louise  Thompson, 
Ethel  Kumler,  Margaret  Wright,  Alice 
Jesse,  Lou  Evea  Tesch,  Carta  Sue 
Rowcliffe  and  Marcia  Wright. 

LOTT'S  BELLES  AND  FRIENDS 
(  averna  Remley,  Loretta  Riley,  Mattie 
Cender,  Emma  Riblet,  Frances  Bane, 
Ethel  Faye  May,  Mabic  O  Neal,  Lorene 
ONeal,  Mrs.  Gene  ONe.il,  Phyliss  Cliff, 
Maria  Bane,  Florence  Rhodes,  Emma 
Coll.  Lyda  Cender,  Alice  Sommer,  Mary 
Cline,  Mary  Nickel,  Wilma  Hendricks, 
Anna  Oliviero,  and  Frances  Becker. 

DAINT^  CYNO'S  —  Sharon  J.  Hieser, 
Vera  H.  Bsne,  Susie  Oyer,  Phyliss  M. 
Anderson,  Elaine  W  Hawthorne,  Jean 
Droll  inspr.  Bar  bar  Heuli,  Delia  Tipsord, 
Pai  Lindauer,  Mary  S'ei.ilicht,  Joyce  E. 
Nally,  Susie  Hoffman,  Linda  C.  Ganssen, 
Sandy  Reynolds,  Wanda  Jacobs,  Susan  L. 
i.  iiidelof,  Kathy  Schultz,  Susan  Simmons, 
Linda  Lindelof,  Pat  Drake  and  Cleona 
Branz. 

BUSTLE  BELLES  —  Jean  Stocker,  Judy 
Peterson,  Karen  May,  Judy  Glascock, 
Phyllis  Donner,  Regina  Johnson,  Mary 
Knapp,  Evelyn  Patton,  Beth  Vyverberg, 
Gail  Seamonds,  Susan  Strebeck,  Marilyn 
Riblet,  Mary  Jane  Hill  and  Jo  Swanson. 

THE  FLOWER  BELLES  Mrs.  Charles 
Dewey,  Mrs.  Russell  Douglas,  Mrs. 
Darrel  Kroon,  Mrs.  Donald  Douglas,  Mrs. 
Thomas  Rhodes,  Mrs.  Phyllis  Coons,  Mrs. 
Mary  Rainwater,  Mrs.  Janice  Mc 
Cul.ou^ii,  Karen  Rhodes  and  Connie 
Rhodes. 

DING  DONG  BELLES  Bee  Diggle, 
Geneva  Calhoun,  Jac  Walker,  Val  Hunt, 
Jean  Hunt,  Margaret  Hunt,  Gayle  Hager, 
Darlene  Tucker,  Marti  Hager,  Helen  Day 
and  Jan  Noble. 

EASTERN  STAR  BELLES  Georgianna 
Johnson,  Clarice  Bennett,  Ethel  L 
Zimmerman,  Mae  Meredith,  Sandra 
Meredith,  Sylvia  M.  Weidner,  Gladys 
Wallis,  Wanda  Curtis,  Mikki  Boyd,  Ellen 
Boyd,  Jane  Bush,  Eva  Cook,  Cecelia 
Anderson,  Edna  Schnittker,  Freeda 
Bedel,  Bea  Warman,  Dorothy  Rudolph, 
Susan  Rudolph,  Barbara  L^onsand  Sonia 
Shuhert. 

GIBSON  GIRLS  Marion  Knapp,  Olive 
Bertram,  Eunice  Jones.  M^rv  Tomokins, 
Alice    Ogg,    Jean    Hall,    Betty    Mooney 


Joyce  Kumler,  Rosemary  Lehman,  and 
Marilyn  Steinman. 

SOYA  BELLES  Freeda  Speers,  Joann 
Pearson,  Cathy  Goff,  Gretchen  Nelson, 
Margaret  Tongate,  Caria  Gravlin,  Sharon 
Nunamaker,  Patti  Graff,  Bette  Lain, 
Imogene  Smith,  Margaret  Rando,  Audrey 
Rotjertson,  Donna  Lindelof,  Bettie  Main, 
Clara  F  McNarny,  Darlene  Be'i  and 
Susie  Thackeray. 

PAPER  DOLLS  Brenda  Welbourn,  lla 
Kumler,  Norma  Kramer,  Val  Hunt,  Hazel 
Witt,  Jean  Hunt,  Virginia  Christensen, 
Johanna  Giseburt,  Nadine  Tomblin, 
Sandi  Craig,  Linda  Gregory,  Ann  Roop, 
DorIa  Parker,  Rita  Peters,  Marie  Garvis, 
Ethel  Woolley,  Helen  Andreae,  Linda 
Barrow,  Joyce  Hix,  Jean  Schertz,  Cheryl 
Hester,  Vicki  Richard,  Jane  Ferguson 
and  Sharon  Asher. 

V.F.W  BELLES  Imogene  Ping,  Nadine 
Tomblin,  Eileen  Schutte,  Wilma  Hen 
dricks,  Marion  Warder,  Mildred  Taylor, 
Jean  Crossman,  Betty  Pearson,  Pam 
Brown,  Mary  Jensen,  Zelma  Bane,  Oleta 
Lantz,  Elma  Stewart,  Wilma  Tandy, 
Anna  Andreae,  Shirley  Benson,  Susan 
Douglas  and  Kay  Bane. 

GOLD  DUSTERS  Violet  Schmidt,  Liz 
Kumler,  Frances  Oneal,  Frances  Mc 
Mahon,  Nan  Bright,  Margo  Martin,  Jean 
Goslin,  Mary  Ann  Grider,  Nancy  Kumlpr, 
Claudia  Murphy,  Rose  Godsey  and  Jan 
Bickel 

JOYFUL  BELLES  Chloe  R  Barrow, 
Mrs.  Loyal  Dickerman,  Elizabeth  Elkin, 
Mrs.  Paul  Elkin,  Mrs  Mabelle  Farlin, 
Mrs.  Lula  Farris,  Mrs.  Stanhope  Foster, 
Mrs.  Blanche  Hollen,  Helen  Foster 
Kelley,  Mrs.  Grave  Moody,  Mrs.  Roy 
Schlickman,  Mrs.  C.  L,  Shaner,  Mrs. 
Doris  Tiardes,  Mrs  Mont  Utterback, 
Mrs.  Ralph  Warfield,  Mrs.  George  Stolz 
and  Mrs.  Richard  Schertz. 

SOUTH  SIDE  BELLES  Mae  Reynolds, 
Virginia  Nelson,  Doris  Young,  Imogene 
Loy,  Margaret  Gregerson,  Bonnie 
Warsaw,  Liia  Rankin,  Marcia  Nickrent, 
Linda  Ehlers,  Marion  Green,  Mary  Alice 
McRae,  Shirley  Reynolds,  Lucille  Sisk, 
Sally  Reynolds,  Nellie  Osborne,  Neva 
Rankin,  Fran  Young,  Patricia  Cribelor, 
Betty  Young,  Helen  Ernest  and  Margaret 
Barns. 

OLIVE  FOLEY  Mrs.  A.  W.  Johnson, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Salyards,  Mrs.  Harlan 
Arens,  Mrs,  Howard  Ehresman,  Mrs.  Don 
Schroeder,  Mrs,  James  Mitchell,  Miss 
Gladys  Dueringer,  Miss  Evelyn 
Dueringer,  Mrs.  Raymond  Gill,  Mrs. 
Warren  Nally,  Mrs.  Emma  Kidd,  Mrs. 
Lena  Shields,  Mrs.  Pauline  Fuoss,  Mrs. 
Sylvia  Hatterberg,  Mrs,  F.  E.  Walker, 
Mrs,  Chester  Chandler,  Mrs,  Agnes  M. 
Simms,  Mrs.  Josephine  M  FitzHenry, 
Mrs  Hazel  Boyer,  Mrs.  Sibyl  Middleton, 
Mrs.  Mary  Frances  "Stubbert,  Mrs. 
Harold  Buesing,  Mrs.  Lee  Barry  and  Mrs. 
C.    F.   Robertson. 

SOCIAL  COUNTRY  BELLES  Yvonne 
Huston,  Jenedia  Jenson,  Pauline  Cullip, 
Buohlah  Reiners,  Vandel  Whitten, 
Dorothy  Huston,  Emma  Jensen,  Dot 
Nelson,  Wilma  Giffard,  Minnie  Huston, 
Elinor  Nelson,  Eleanor  Stolz,  Pauline 
Helmick  and  Gladys  Taylor 

GARBER  BELLES  Helen  Cramer, 
Bessie  Cater,  Clara  Thedens,  LaVonne 
Riblet,  Jessie  Roesch,  Etta  Beck,  Grace 
Bielfeldt,  Ann  Brokate,  Edna  Brokate, 
Ella  Clausen,  Maxine  Cook,  Edna  Sandor, 
Anna  Schroeder,  Clara  Schroeder,  Elsie 
Schroeder,  Cora  Glascock,  Le  Etta  Bane, 
Ann  Beck,  Kathy  Riblet  and  Kate 
Schroeder. 


57 


(ORGANIZATIONS  —  continued  from  page  51) 


TIIK  CIBSON  CITY  CHAMBER  OF  COMMERCE 

Down  Ihrough  the  years  the  progress  of  Gibson  City  has 
been  in  a  larce  part,  the  result  of  work  by  its  Chamber  of 
Commerce. 

The  Gibsop  City  Chamber  of  Commerce  has  been  sup- 
ported by  progressive  business  people.  It  was  responsible  for 
assisting  the  "ndiana  -  based  Central  Soya  Company  to  locate 
its  second  plant  -  first  in  Illinois  -  in  Gibson  City.  Central  Soya 
soon  became  the  largest  employer  in  the  community,  and  a 
■■good  citizen  ",  with  its  contributions  of  money  and  materials 
for  many  civic  causes,  and  the  donation  of  time  by  many  of 
its  executives  and  employees. 

The  Gibson  Chamber  of  Commerce  played  a  large  part  in 
locating  the  M  &  W  Gear  Company  plant  in  the  mid  -  1960s  at 
the  south  edge  of  the  community.  The  company  had  its  start 
at  Anchor,  where  it  grew  so  rapidly  that  it  soon  needed  larger 
quarters,  a  larger  labor  pool,  and  access  to  greater  tran- 
sportation possibilities  than  were  available  at  Anchor.  The 
company  became  Gibson  City's  largest  employer  by  1970.  as 
it  climbed  to  the  top  of  ■'short  line  "  farm  machinen.- 
manufacturers  in  the  nation. 

The  original  Gibson  Canning  Company,  sponsor  of  one  of 
the  finest  amateur  basketball  teams  in  the  United  States  at 
one  lime,  named  -Yours  Truly  "  after  the  firm's  popular 
brand  name,  was  later  acquired  by  Stokely  -  Van  Camp.  The 
company  cans  sweet  corn,  sweet  peas  and  lima  beans,  and  is 
an  important  seasonal  employer.  It  is  of  considerable  other 
economic  value  because  of  the  large  acreage  it  owns  and 
contracts  from  others  for  its  crops. 

As  Gibson  City  reached  its  Centennial  year,  a  number  of 
other  important  local  industries  had  been  located  in  the 
community  largely  through  the  efforts  of  the  Gibson 
Chamber  of  Commerce.  Among  them  are  the  Nation  -  Wide 


Glove  Co.,  Shaffer  Spring  Co.,  and  Electronics  Components, 
Inc. 

Davis  Welding  and  Manufacturing  Co.  was  a  hometown 
industry  that  grew  with  the  development  of  new  products, 
Kramer  Publishing  Co.  became  the  central  printing  plant  for 
the  Gibson  City  Courier  and  seven  other  area  weekly 
newspapers.  Noble  Bros,  was  a  major  seed  merchandiser  in 
the  country. 

But  the  Gibson  Chamber  of  Commerce  did  more  than  at- 
tract new  industries  and  encourage  the  growth  of  already 
existing  companies.  It  annually  sponsors  and  finances 
downtow-n  Christmas  lighting  and  decorations,  and  brings 
Santa  Claus  to  town  each  year  for  visits  with  children  of  the 
community  just  before  Christmas.  Merchants  sponsor 
periodic  Dollar  Days  and  Sidewalk  Days  events,  as  well  as 
other  special  events  for  the  budget  -  minded  in  the  Gibson 
City  trading  area. 

The  Chamber  for  years  has  sponsored,  together  with 
farmers  of  the  community,  the  annual  Community  Sale 
event,  on  the  first  Thursday  of  March.  The  organization 
annually  recognizes  the  '■Outstanding  Citizen",  and  one  year 
named  the  entire  volunteer  Gibson  City  Fire  Department  for 
the  honor. 

In  many  other  ways  the  members  of  the  Gibson  Chamber 
of  Commerce  have  acted  to  promote  the  betterment  of  the 
Gibson  City  community  in  all  ways.  Its  membership  consists 
not  only  of  merchants  and  business  men  and  women,  but  of 
those  in  the  professions  and  the  senice  occupations, 
representatives  of  local  industries  and  utilities,  and 
ministers  of  the  community's  churches. 

The  Gibson  City  community  is  today  what  it  is  because  of 
the  efforts  of  many  organizations  and  individual  citizens,  and 
the  Gibson  Chamber  of  Commerce  has  earned  a  large  part  of 
the  credit. 


PAST  PRESIDENTS 
CHAMBER  OF  COMMERCE 


1949  - 

1950 

1950  - 

1951 

1951  - 

1952 

1952  - 

1953 

1953  - 

1954 

1954  - 

1955 

1955  - 

1956 

1956  • 

1957 

1957  - 

1958 

1958  - 

1959 

1959  ■ 

1960 

1960  ■ 

1961 

1961  ■ 

1962 

1962  ■ 

1963 

1963 

1964 

1964 

1965 

1965 

•  1966 

1966 

1967 

1967 

■  1968 

1968 

1969 

1969 

■  1970 

1970 

-  1971 

1971 

-  1972 

John  (Jack)   Bradford 
Lyie  Edel 
Wally  Lamb 
Clifford  Shaner 
D.  S.  Stoker 
John  Carson 
Clifford  Orr 
Verle  Kramer 
Verle  Kramer 
Frank  Hunt  Jr. 
Wes  Calhoun 
William  S.  Middleton 
Les  Lammie 
Jim  Hager 
David  Kramer 
Orren  Pierce 
Jon  Hunt 
Emery  Cender 
Max  Hoover 
Dick  Kemple 
George  Stevens 
Ernie  Brown 
Jim  Thompson 


This  page  sponsored  by 
Jim's  Food  Center  and  Arends  &  Sons 


58 


Charter  officers  of  the  BPVV  were  (seated,  from  left)  Mrs.  Imogene  Smith,  Mrs. 
Eleanor  Gilmore  and  Mrs.  .Mice  Ogg:  (standing)  Mrs.  Esther  Hamburg.  Mrs. 
Darlene  Tucker  and  Mrs.  Jane  Burns. 


BPVV 


The  Business  and  Professional  Women's  Club  of  Gibson 
City  was  chartered  June  19.  1964.  with  54  members.  At  the 
enci  of  the  first  year  there  were  100  members. 

Membership  is  open  to  any  woman  in  the  area  who  is  a 
professional  or  business  woman,  and  gets  a  regular  pay 
check.  The  purpose  is  to  elevate  the  standard  for  women  in 
business  and  professions. 

The  charter  officers  were  Mrs.  Eleanor  Gilmore, 
president,  who  was  also  the  president  the  second  year;  Mrs. 
Alice  Ogg,  first  vice  president;  Mrs.  Darlene  Tucker.  2nd 
vice  president;  Mrs.  Imogene  Smith,  recording  secretary; 


Mrs.  Jane  Burns,  corresponding  secretary;  and  Mrs.  Esther 
Hamburger,  treasurer. 

Other  presidents  have  been  Mrs.  Alice  Ogg.  Mrs.  Imogene 
Smith,  Mrs.  Margaret  Anderson.  Mrs.  Fern  Carroll  and  Mrs. 
Phyllis  Anderson.  Mrs.  Marmell  Jones  will  be  serving  as 
president  next  year. 

The  club  has  a  dinner  meeting  at  one  of  the  churches  on  the 
third  Tuesday  of  each  month. 

The  four  people  responsible  for  organizing  the  club  were 
Mrs.  Margaret  Smith.  Mrs.  Eleanor  Gilmore.  Mrs.  Alice  Ogg 
and  Mrs.  Llovd  Patterson. 


GIBSON  CITY  JUNIOR  WOMAN'S  CLCB 


On  July  7. 1938.  in  the  home  of  Mrs.  M.  Malone.  the  Gibson 
City  Junior  Woman's  Club  was  organized.  There  were  43 
members.  Meetings  were  held  the  second  and  fourth  Monday 
evenings  of  each  month  in  the  American  Legion  rooms  of  the 
old  library.  By  the  end  of  the  year  the  club  had  a  membership 
of  70. 

The  first  officers  were  Genevera  Carlson,  president;  Helen 
Ogg,  vice  president;  Lucille  Miller,  secretary;  Doris  Tjar- 
des,  treasurer:  Zola  Ropp.  leader  and  Mrs.  M.  Malone. 
senior  advisor. 

On  December  28.  1938.  a  Christmas  Charity  Ball  was  held 
in  the  K.  P.  Hall  to  help  finance  their  first  project  -  -  a  milk 
fund  the  the  grade  school.  They  cleared  $36.00  and  it  was 
deemed  a  great  success. 

As  the  membership  grew  smaller,  home's  of  members 
were  used  as  the  meeting  place.  During  the  late  1940's  and 
50's  bi-monthly  meetings  were  held  at  the  Woman's  Club 
Memorial  Building  as  membership  reached  a  high  of  some  80 
members.  The  club  was  very  active  in  raising  funds  for  the 
Girl  Scout  Cabin  in  the  late  1950's. 

In  Centennial  year  1971  (33  years  later)  the  Gibson  City 
Junior  Woman's  Club  has  a  membership  of  15.  They  meet  the 
second  Thursday  evening  of  each  month  at  member's  homes. 

The  officers  for  1971  -  72  are  Mrs.  John  Bell,  president; 
Mrs.  James  Hazen,  vice  president:  Mrs.  Tom  Fox, 
secretary;  and  Mrs.  Robert  Hendricks,  treasurer. 

The  organization  is  a  volunteer  service  group  offering 
many  different  fields  of  interest,  ^ome  of  our  community 


projects  are  baking  cookies  for  the  hospital  and  Gibson 
Manor,  planting  flowers  in  the  North  Park  each  spring,  the 
student  loan  fund,  the  migrant  council  and  sponsoring  a  Girl 
Scout  troop,  to  name  a  few.  Federation  projects  include 
Brain  Research,  Scholarships  for  Teachers  of  Exceptional 
Children,  National  Association  for  Retarded  Children, 
Project  Concern  and  many  others. 

Our  main  fund  raising  project  has  been  the  sale  of  Trick  of 
Treat  candy  sold  annually  in  the  month  of  October. 

The  General  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs,  of  which  we  are 
a  member,  is  the  largest  woman's  organization  in  the  world. 


ARTHUR    WOOD 
GIBSON  LODGE  NO.  733 


charter  members 

■Worship  Master; 

Westrope  -  J.  W.; 

Wm.   Cornell.   Jr 


Gibson  Lodge  No  733  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons 
first  received  its  charter  in  October  1875.  There  were  41 
They  are  listed  below:  Henry  A.  Raney  - 
Freeman  S.  Church  -  S.  W.;  Wm.  A. 
Caleb  McKeever,  Samuel  A.  Thompson, 
,  John  H.  Gaston,  Ferry  L.  Leonard, 
Napoleon  Snyder.  Jas.  R.  Lott,  Joshua  E.  Davis,  Samuel  A. 
Armstrong.  John  McKay.  Frank  C.  McDowell,  Thomas  C. 
Wilson,  Jos.  N.  Putney.  Cornelius  Dyer,  Samuel  J.  LeFevre, 
Thaddeus  S.  Collins, 'John  H.  Bulger,  Geo.  S.  Eggleston, 
Walter  H.  Cornell,  Wm.  M.  Bailey.  Chas.  H.  Yeomans, 
Thomas  H.  Kingsley,  W,  S.  McLead.  Wm.  H.  Simms, 
Timothy  Ross.  Geo.  McNabney.  Geo.  W.  Wood,  Geo. 
MuUendore,  Chas.  P.  Younggreen,  .Anderson  L.  Ballard, 
Dwight  A.  Dungan,  John  R.  Gilchrist,  Lester  S.  Heath,  James 
N.  Hoskins.  John  H.  Collier.  Andrew  Jordan,  Joshua  R. 
McClelland,  Chas.  E.  Wilson. 

There  have  been  at  least  two  meeting  places.  One  was 
above  what  is  now  Rose's  Shoppe.  How  long  they  met  there  is 
not  certain.  Many  of  the  records  were  destroyed  by  a  fire. 
The  present  meeting  place,  above  Loy's  Store,  was  originally 
Lambs  Furniture  Store  and  Funeral  Home.  They  have  been 
meeting  there  for  the  last  50  to  60  years.  At  one  time  the 
Commandery  also  met  in  the  present  lodge  hall. 

The  photo  is  of  Brother  Arthur  E.  Wood,  who  transferred  to 
Gibson  Lodge  in  1901.  Brother  Wood  had  the  great  honor  of 
being  elected  Grand  Master  of  Masons  of  the  State  of  Illinois. 
This  honor  comes  to  few  men.  Brother  Wood  was  elected  in 
1923.  Due  to  ill  health  he  resigned  after  one  year  of  service  of 
what  is  a  two  year  term.  He  passed  away  in  1926. 

The  lodge  membership  now,  96  years  later,  exceeds  235  and 
is  a  very  active  organization. 


REBEKAH  LODGE  NO.  146 

Lillian  Rebekah  Lodge  No.  146  was  instituted  Nov.  18,  1885, 
with  22  members.  During  the  years  between  1885  and  1970  a 
total  of  705  have  held  membership  in  the  lodge. 

At  present  the  membership  is  18,  including  four  50  -  year 
members. 

Mrs.  Mayme  Gilmore  was  the  Noble  Grand  when  the  order 
was  instituted  in  Gibson  City.  Her  husband,  Ira,  was  active  in 
the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge.  Mrs.  Lola  Reynolds  is  currently 
serving  as  Noble  Grand  and  Mrs.  Lulu  Phares  as  Vice  Grand. 

The  Odd  Fellow  Lodge  No.  542  built  the  building  now  owned 
by  the  American  Legion.  It  was  built  in  1913  or  '14.  The 
building  contractor  was  George  C.  Pinkley  and  the  building 
committee  was  composed  of  J.  A.  Shaw,  Ira  Gilmore,  N.  B. 
Tyler,  Fred  Harm  and  J.  P.  Myers.  After  the  building  was 
sold,  the  Rebekah  Lodge  moved  to  a  room  over  the  Oscar 
Buesing  Pool  Hall.  In  1965  this  building  burned  and 
everything  was  lost.  The  Rebekah  Lodge  moved  to  the  First 
Christian  Church  and  presently  meets  in  the  new  church 
building. 

THE  GIBSON  CITY  WOMAN'S  CLUB 

The  Gibson  City  woman's  club  was  organized  in  October, 
1895,  as  a  study  group  with  a  membership  of  25  women  in  the 
home  of  Mrs.  J.  B.  Foley  with  Mrs.  Emmanuel  Lowry  as 
assistant  hostess. 

Meetings  were  held  in  the  homes  until  a  room  in  Moyer 
Library  became  available.  From  that  time  the  membership 
has  increased  to  100  or  more. 

In  1920  the  club  became  federated  with  the  state;  in  1924 
with  the  17th  district,  in  1933  with  the  county  and  with  the 
general  federation  in  1945. 

The  woman's  club  has  helped  with  many  welfare  and  civic 
projects  over  the  years,  in  co  -  operation  with  other  groups 
and  has  contributed  generously  to  several  community  funds. 

In  1956  Mrs.  Edna  Phillips  Coal,  a  long  time  member, 
bequeathed  the  Gibson  City  Woman's  Club  the  sum  of  $15,000 
to  purchase  a  club  house.  This  money,  minus  an  inheritance 
tax  bought  the  partly  constructed  building  at  the  corner  of 
North  Church  and  18th  Streets  where  the  Woman's  Club 
Memorial  Building  now  stands,  and  completed  the  structure. 
Club  meetings  and  other  gatherings  are  held  there. 


MODERN  WOODMEN  OF  AMERICA 

Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  a  fraternal  organization, 
established  camp  no.  235  in  Gibson  City  early  in  the  19O0's 
and  still  has  an  active  group  of  members  which  hold  monthly 
meetings.  This  camp  had  a  very  active  drill  team  that 
traveled  around  Central  Illinois  putting  on  the  work  of  the 
organization. 


THE  GIBSON  CITY  COIN  CLUB 

The  Gibson  City  Coin  Club  was  organized  in  October  of 
1964.  It  has  a  present  membership  of  25  active  members  who 
were  asked  by  the  area  centennial  committee  to  help  with  the 
programs.  Harold  Underwood  and  Robert  Grossman  were 
appointed  to  represent  the  club  and  with  a  few  suggestions 
from  different  people,  they  drew  a  sketch  and  designed  the 
medallion  which  the  centennial  committee  accepted. 


60 


ROTARY  CLUB  DIST.  649 

The  Gibson  City  Rotary  Club  was  organized  June  16,  1964, 
and  held  its  charter  night  September  2-t.  iyH-1 

The  club  meets  each  Wednesday  night  at  Jake  and  Kate's. 

Rotarians  of  Gibson  City  were  presented  the  District  649 
Community  Service  Award  in  1970  and  1971  for  participation 
in  community  activities. 

Some  of  their  community  service  projects  include: 
Providing  benches  and  play  equipment  at  Lowry  Park; 
assist  in  sponsoring  a  nursing  scholarship;  sponsor  a 
delegate  to  Boy's  State ;  financially  support  the  Student  Loan 
Fund;  co-sponsors  of  the  annual  All-Sports  Banquet 
honoring  high  school  athletes;  maintenance  of  steam  engine 
in  the  south  park;  sponsor  annual  flea  market; 

Provided  new  water  fountain  in  business  district;  sponsor 
music  scholarship;  recognition  of  scholars;  gun  safety 
program ;  bicycle  safety  program ;  installed  sewer  drain  and 
brought  in  water  and  installed  toilets  in  Boy  Scout  Cabin  in 
south  park;  invested  $500  in  Gibson  City  Centennial 
Celebration. 

Officers  of  the  club  during  1970  -  71  are  Dick  Moody, 
president;  Lee  Barry,  vice  president;  Art  Benz,  secretary; 
and  Bill  Anderson,  treasurer. 

Other  membes  who  have  served  president  of  the  club  are 
as  follows:  Charles  Hamm,  Larry  Williams,  David  Gill. 
Charles  Crowley,  Donald  Trotter  and  Kenneth  Meredith. 


ROYAL  NEIGHBORS  OF  AMERICA 
FRATERNAL  LIFE  INSURANCE 

Royal  Neighbors  of  America,  Fraternal  Life  Insurance, 
was  founded  as  a  social  group  in  1888.  It  was  known  as  the 
Ladies  auxiliary  to  the  Modem  Woodsmen  of  America. 

Royal  Neighbors  of  America  was  chartered  as  a  fraternal 
benefit  society  in  Illinois,  March  21,  1895. 

The  first  Supreme  office  was  located  in  Peoria,  111.,  in  1894. 
In  1908  the  National  Headquarters  were  moved  to  Rock 
Island,  111.  and  are  still  located  there. 

Notice  to  the  effect  that  R.N. A.  ceased  to  be  an  auxiliary  to 
Modern  Woodsmen  was  published  in  July  1929. 

The  Royal  Neighbor  Home  for  the  benefit  of  aged  mem- 
bers, was  built  in  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  dedicated  July  18, 
1931. 

In  September  1961,  the  R.N.A.  fraternal  scholarship 
program  was  authorized  by  the  Board  of  Supreme  Directors, 
offering  scholarships  on  a  compettive  basis  to  young  adult 
members  of  the  Society, 

April  6,  1900,  Gibson,  111.  received  its  R.N.A.  charter  for 
adults.  The  petition  for  the  charter  was  signed  by:  Dr.  0.  A. 
Coss.  Dr.  F.  B.  Lorell,  Mrs.  Martha  Jordon,  Mrs.  Ida 
Swanson,  Mrs.  Lottie  Swanson,  Mrs.  Luella  Brown,  Mrs. 
Julia  Prince,  Ms.  Emma  Grim.  Mrs.  M.  Christensen,  Mrs. 
Calnie  Grapes,  Mrs.  Rosa  Claypool.  Mrs.  McDowell,  James 
Jordon,  Mrs.  Pernia  Keith,  0.  C.  Keith,  Mrs.  Ashby,  Mr.  M. 
Christensen,  Mr.  Wm.  Rick,  Mrs.  Rick,  Mr.  C.  W.  Brown, 
Miss  Christensen. 

The  society  first  held  their  meetings  in  the  Woodsmen  Hall 
and  also  the  K.P.  Hall.  The  first  line  of  officers  installed 
were:  Oracle  -  C.  W.  Brown;  past  oracle  -  Miss  Christensen; 
vice  oracle  -  Emma  Grim,  chancellor  -  Ida  Swanson; 
recorder-Pernia  Keith;  receiver-Martha  Jordon;  marshall- 
Julia  Prince;  ass't  marshal  -  Mrs.  Amanda  Ashby;  inner 
sentinel  -  Lottie  Swanson;  outer  sentinel  -  James  Jordon; 
manager  -  Mr.  0.  C.  Keith;  manager  -  Mrs.  Calnie  Grapes; 
manager  -  Mrs.  Rosa  Claypool;  physicians  -  Dr.  Lorell  and 
Dr.  Coss. 

Gibson  City  received  the  Juvenile  Charter  on  Jan.  6,  1920 


61 


and  the  names  of  the  first  juveniles  were  inscribed  on  the 
charter  as  follows:  Robert  Chippendale,  Faye  Johnson, 
Gladys  Leonard,  Mattie  McAtee,  Frances  Poplett,  Leah 
Thomas,  Evan  Rick,  Lola  Sawyer,  Bertha  Swanson, 
Theodore  Q.  Swanson,  Guy  Thomas. 

Gibson  City  was  host  irl  1970  for  the  Ford  County  R.N.A 
49th  Convention.  R.  N.  A.  met  in  the  American  Legion  Hall 
for  a  number  of  years  and  now  meet  at  the  Del-Co  cafe. 


DRUMMER  CHAPTER  NO.  822 
ORDER  OF  EASTERN  STAR 

A  preliminary  meeting  was  called  Sept.  23,  1919,  to 
organize  a  chapter  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star  in  Gibson 
City  The  following  people  were  present:  Mrs.  Vina  Barrow, 
Miss  Elizabeth  Bartlett,  Mrs.  Margaret  Grant  Main,  Mrs. 
Pcarle  Eggleston,  Mrs.  Mary  D.  Bartlett,  Mrs.  Fannie  E. 
Cooper,  Mrs.  Hester  Wilson,  Mrs.  Lucile  Denne,  Mrs.  Nettie 
Gill,  Mrs.  Maude  Means,  Miss  Elizabeth  Shaner,  Mrs.  Delia 
Lamb  Mrs.  Cleo  Lamb.  Mrs.  Cora  Barnhart,  Mrs.  Lena 
Denne,  Miss  Anna  Day.  Mrs.  Maude  Tatman  Schumaker, 
Mrs.  Martha  J.  Crammond,  Mrs.  Zaidee  Phillips,  Mrs. 
Margaret  A.  Wash.  Mr.  Bryson  Strauss,  Mrs.  Gertrude  M. 
Strauss.  Mr.  W.  Shumway  Lamb,  Mrs.  Mollie  Alice  Hay, 
Mrs.  Robena  Newcomb  and  Martha  J.  Crammond  as 
chairman. 

II  was  decided  that  meetings  would  be  held  the  first  and 
third  Tuesdays  of  the  month  and  that  a  constitutional  number 
of  persons,  consisting  of  23  ladies  and  2  master  Masons  had 
signed  the  petition  for  Dispensation  for  forming  a  new 
chapter.  The  petition  was  forwarded  to  the  Grand  Chapter  of 
Illinois.  On  October  2.  1919.  the  dispensation  from  the  Grand 
Chapter  was  received,  authorizing  that  Drummer  Chapter  be 
instituted  and  become  invested  with  full  powers  as  a  chapter. 
The  Chapter  was  formally  instituted  October  22,  1919.  The 
commission  was  read  whereby  the  authority  was  shown  that 
Brother  A.  G.  Wascher,  Worthy  Patron  of  Prospect  Chapter 
No.  367.  Paxton.  Illinois  was  duly  appointed  Deputy  Worthy 
Grand  Patron  and  officers  were  appointed  by  him  to  assist  in 
the  work  of  instituting  the  Chapter. 

First  officers  of  Drummer  Chapter  were:  Bryson  Strauss, 
worthy  patron;  F«nnie  Cooper,  associate  matron;  Cora 
Barnhart  secretary;  Lena  Denne,  treasurer;  Mollie  Alice 
Hay  conductress;  Gertrude  Strauss,  assoc.  conductress; 
Elizabeth  Bartlett,  Adah;  Nettie  Gill,  Ruth;  Margaret  Main, 
Esther  Margaret  Wash,  Martha;  Maude  Means,  Electa; 
Martha  Crammond,  chaplain;  Hester  E.  Wilson,  organist; 
Mary  D.  Bartlett.  warder;  Lucile  Denne.  marshall  and  Pearl 
Eggleston,  sentinel. 

The  charter  of  Drummer  Chapter  was  received  from 
Grand  Chapter  October  5.  1920. 

In  1964  Ariel  Chapter.  Fisher.  Illinois  merged  with 
Drummer  Capter. 

Drummer  Chapter  has  flourished  spreading  charity,  truth 
and  loving  kindness  and  now  has  253  members. 


\ 


BRYSON  STRAUSS 
FIRST  WORTHY  PATRON 


MRS.  BRYSON  STRAUSS 
FIRST  WORTHY  MATRON 


62 


sroiTING  IN  GIBSON  CITY 


BOY  SCOUTS 


Founded 

Rev.  C.  J.  Robertson  of  the  Christian  Church  founded  the 
Boy  Scouts  in  1915  in  Gibson  City.  It  was  an  independent  troop 
chartered  directly  from  New  York  City  headquarters.  The 
,  first  leader  was  O.  C.  Oakley  ifamiharly  known  as  "Oakie") 
Means.  He  was  assisted  at  camp  during  the  first  years  by 
Mer\in  LeValley.  "Oakie"  ser\'ed  in  the  capacity  of  leader 
for  many  faithful  years. 

Re-Chartered 

In  19:!9  ■  40  Mr.  Means  re-chartered  the  Lone  Troop  into  the 
Arrowhead  Council  of  Boy  Scouts  of  America  with  head  office 
in  Champaign.  For  the  past  thirty  years  the  Boy  Scouts  have 
operated  as  part  of  Arrowhead  Council. 

Meethig  Place 

The  American  Legion  Post  had  a  cabin  in  the  block  south  of 
the  North  Park,  now  the  Chas.  Grider's  back  yard.  It  was 
built  of  2'  X  -I's  and  beaver  board  by  Jack  Nagle's  father.  It 
was  moved  to  the  South  Park  where  it  was  bricked  in  early  in 
the4U's.  It  was  then  donated  to  the  Boy  Scouts. 

Camps 

In  1915  the  boys  camped  south  of  Mahomet  along  the 
Sangamon  River.  They  went  by  horse  and  buggy,  which  was 
a  1'l'  day  drive.  In  the  1920's  the  troop  changed  camp  sites  a 
number  of  times,  ranging  from  very  close  to  Gibson  City  to 
souiliwest  of  Mahomet.  In  the  late  20's  and  early  30's  they 
settled  on  a  camp  site  about  one  -  half  mile  east  of  the  East 
Bend  Mennonite  Church  north  of  Fisher.  The  Hermit's  Cabin 
near  Fisher  was  near  an  annual  encampment. 

Many  happy  memories  surround  their  camping  ex- 
periences. The  big  cook  tent  was  piled  high  with  canned  corn 
and  beans  from  the  Gibson  Canning  Factory.  Water  was 
brought  every  day  by  a  Model  -  T  Ford  through  the  gully  to 
the  East  Bend  Church  and  back  to  camp.  On  visitors'  night 
friends  and  families  attended,  and  often  an  Indian  Pow  -  wow 
was  held.  Every  year  the  boys  built  a  stone  dam  in  the  river 
and  stairs  in  the  clay  bank  to  facilitiate  getting  down  to  the 
water  to  wash  dishes. 

Since  1943  the  boys  have  usually  camped  at  Camp  Drake, 
the  Council  camp  in  ihe  Oakwood  area.  This  two  -  week 
camping  period  became  the  high  light  of  Ihe  year  with 
swimming,  five  -  mile  hikes,  and  the  ceremony  of  the  Order 
of  the  Arrow.  In  the  1950's  a  canoe  trip  to  Region  7  Canoe 
Base  was  held.  The  Explorer  Post  spent  five  days  in  the 
wilderness  of  the  Michigan  Peninsula.  This  involved 
traveling  by  map  and  compass,  getting  lost,  carrying  70  lb. 
packs,  learning  to  paddle  a  canoe  on  a  big  lake  against  the 
wind,  as  well  as  learning  to  make  a  real  camp  site. 


GIRL SCOUTS 

F"ounded 

In  1932  a  group  of  about  six  girls  were  vs'anting  to  form  a 
club.  They  had  been  reading  Girl  Scout  magazines  and  were 
impressed  with  the  Girl  Scout  activities  in  other  towns  and 
states.  Mrs.  L.  A.  Barrow  organized  and  had  chartered  the 
first  Girl  Scout  troop  in  Gibson  City,  in  April  19.34.  Mrs.  Doris 
Johnson  Suter  was  the  first  troop  leader,  and  there  were  56 
girls  in  Ihe    troop.  They  were  of  Ihe  7th  and  8lh  grade  age 


group.  In  1940  the  first  Brownie  troop  was  organized  for  2nd 
and  3rd  grade  girls.  By  1955  there  were  9  troops  of  130  girls 
active  in  the  program,  a  senior  troop  of  high  school  girls 
having  been  added.  In  1970  there  were  8  troops  of  135  mem- 
bers. 

Meeting  Places 

The  first  2  or  3  meetings  were  held  in  the  Boy  Scout  Cabin. 
The  early  Girl  Scouts  met  in  rooms  in  the  Grade  School 
basement  and  in  parents'  homes  for  many  years.  On  May  30. 
1959.  the  newly  built  Girl  Scout  cabin  was  dedicated.  The 
m(xiern.  brick,  fireproof  structure  was  built  by  dads  and 
local  volunteers  under  the  direction  of  Harvey  Rasmussen, 
who  volunteered  to  be  construction  chairman  The  plans 
were  drawn  up  by  his  son.  Robert,  an  architecture  student  at 
University  of  Illinois.  Practically  everyone  in  the  community 
donated  time  and  money  to  Ihe  project.  Local  organizations. 
Ihe  Community  Chest,  and  individuals  donated  money,  in 
addition  to  that  raised  by  the  troops.  At  the  dedicatory  ser- 
vice. Ihe  V.F.W.  dedicated  a  flag  pole  at  the  site  and  also 
presented  the  girls  with  a  flag  which  had  flown  over  Ihe 
While  House  The  cabin  is  located  on  land  that  Mr.  L.  A. 
Barrow  had  purchased  and  donated  to  Ihe  city  to  be  used  for 
recreation  and  or  a  park.  The  baseball  park  is  located  on 
this  same  land. 

In  1955  the  Girl  Scouts  were  changed  from  a  Lone  Troop 
status  lo  affiliation  with  the  Green  Prairie  Council,  Cham- 
paign area,  later  named  Green  Meadows  Girl  Scout  Council 
of  Illinois,  Inc. 

Camps 

The  Girl  Scouts  enjoyed  camping  from  Ihe  very  beginning. 
At  first  camping  was  done  in  tents  -  and  still  is.  Outdoor 
cooking  was  a  big  thing,  and  bean  -  hole  cooking  was  very 
popular.  This  is  where  a  large  hole  is  dug  in  the  ground,  a 
good  bed  of  hot  coals  is  laid,  and  an  entire  meal  can  be  cooked 
underground.  In  1970  Ihe  Girl  Scouts  are  still  using  this 
method  of  outdoor  cooking. 

Camping  was  done  at  Foster's  Grove,  at  the  Hermit's 
Cabin  near  Fisher,  and  also  at  Camp  Drake  near  Danville. 

Day  Camp  was  held  in  the  very  beginning  and  has  con- 
tinued through  the  years.  In  the  present  day.  Day  Camp  is 
held  for  one  whole  week. 

Camping  for  one  week  or  two  still  continues  since  1934.  The 
Girl  Scouts  used  to  camp  at  Lake  Bloominglon  with  Ihe  entire 
camp  staff  being  volunteer  mothers  and  older  girls.  About 
1944  Ihe  girls  began  using  Camp  Kiwanis  near  Mahomet.  This 
camp  is  still  being  used  by  Ihe  Gibson  City  Girl  Scouts  and 
had  been  enlarged  considerably  Another  camp  site  is  Wa-ha- 
na-ha  near  Gilman.  Singing  around  the  campfire  at  night  has 
long  been  a  tradition  of  the  Girl  Scouts. 

War  Projects 

The  Girl  Scouts  collected  grease  in  a  "Fats  Drive",  and  in 
one  paper  drive  alone  they  collected  15.189  pounds  of  old 
newspapers. 

Troop  Projects 

The  Girl  Scouts  have  sold  cookies  since  1938  -  39.  The  first 
couple  of  years  the  cookies  were  baked  by  the  Harder's 
Bakery.  In  1940.  the  first  factory  made  cookies  were  sold. 
There  was  only  one  kind  and  they  sold  for  25  cents  per  box. 
Each  cookie  was  stamped  with  the  Girl  Scout  emblem.  Today 
Ihe  Girls  are  sbll  selling  cookies.  There  are  5  kinds  to  select 
from,  they  cost  50  cents  a  box.  are  still  stamped  with  the  Girl 
Scout  emblem,  and  the  money  is  still  being  used  to  pay  for 


63 


troop  camping. 

Girl  Scout  calendars  were  sold  as  far  back  as  1945  for  25 
cents.  They  are  still  being  sold  with  the  price  being  only  35 
cents. 

The  girls  used  to  work  for  the  community  in  the  areas  of  the 
elderly  and  the  needy.  Today  the  Girl  Scouts  are  doing  the 
same.  They  seriously  carry  out  their  pledge  to  do  a  good 
deed.  This  has  been  proved  in  1969-70  when  one  troop 
volunteered  three  afternoons  a  week  to  be  with  the  elderly  at 
the  Gibson  Manor  and  were  highly  commended  for  their 
volunteer  work. 


4-H  CLUB  HISTORY  OF  GIBSON  CITY 

The  first  4-H  club  in  the  Gibson  City  area  was  a  boys  club 
started  apparently  in  1928  with  John  Haypenny  as  the  first 
leader.  George  Swaim  was  the  farm  advisor  at  that  time.  The 
club  was  composed  of  about  12  boys  and  projects  carried 
were  beef,  swine  and  a  hybrid  corn  project.  Hybrid  corn  was 
just  becoming  available  and  the  boys  planted  an  acre  of  a 
particular  variety  as  their  4-H  project. 

The  girl's  club  was  probably  started  about  1928  or  29. 
Among  the  first  leaders  were  Mrs.  Eleanor  Onken,  Mrs. 
Deana  Warfield,  Mrs.  Raymond  Green.  Mrs.  P.  M.  Ker- 
chenfaut.  Mrs  Merritt  Kerchenfaut,  and  Mrs.  Carl  Beecher. 
The  first  projects  were  clothing  construction  projects. 
Cooking  as  a  4-H  project  did  not  start  until  about  1936. 

Alice  Green  Siegfried,  now  of  Scottsdale.  Arizona,  was  the 
first  Ford  County  delegate  to  4-H  Club  Congress  in  Chicago  in 
1936  She  earned  the  trip  through  her  work  in  sewing  con- 
struction and  modeling. 

4-H,  in  both  agriculture  and  homemaking  areas,  has  been 
more  or  less  continuous  since  its  start.  The  name  of  the  first 
girls  club  was  Blue  Ribbon  which  the  club  today  still  uses. 


4-H  CLUBS 

The  Ford  County  Extension  Service  first  was  organized  in 
1919  to  provide  farmers  with  production  management  in- 
formation. At  that  time  the  farm  bureau  was  organized  to 
give  local  support  to  extension  programs. 

In  1922  the  first  4-H  «lub  "Burr  Oak",  was  organized  at 
Sibley  under  the  leadership  of  Louis  Rust.  The  standard 
project  was  swine. 

In  1935  Home  Economics  Extension  was  organized  and 
supported  by  the  home  bureau.  The  name  was  changed  to  the 
Home  Economics  Extension  Association  in  1967  and  today 
about  280  women  members  participate  and  support  the  ex- 
tension program. 

The  4-H  program  is  an  integral  part  of  Cooperative  Ex- 
tension. In  1971  nearly  450  boys  and  girls  are  enrolled  in  22  4- 
H  clubs  in  Ford  County.  Their  projects  range  from  livestock, 
foods  and  clothing  to  photography,  arts  and  crafts,  con- 
servation and  model  rocketry.  Activities  include  camping, 
leadership  experience,  health,  and  recreation. 

In  addition  to  Home  Economics  Association  support,  the 
Ford  County  Cooperative  Extension  Service  is  provided  local 
financial  support  by  the  Ford  County  Board  of  Supervisors. 


HOSPITAL  AUXILIARY 

The  Gibson  Community  Hospital  Auxiliary  was  organized 
in  November,  1952,  with  238  members  and  Mrs.  R.  A.  Stroh  as 
the  first  president.  The  Auxiliary  was  organized  for  the 
purpose  of  promoting  and  advancing  the  welfare  of  the 
Gibson  Community  Hospital  Association.  This  Auxiliary  has 
grown  to  262  members,  including  35  life  memberships  and  37 
associate  memberships  in  1971. 

Since  its  organization,  the  Auxiliary  has  provided 
numerous  volunteer  services  to  the  Gibson  Community 
Hospital.  Some  of  these  services  have  included  patient  mail 
service,  a  library  cart,  sewing  and  mending,  beauty  shop, 
tray  favors,  bandage  rolling,  sponsoring  the  Red  Cross  Blood 
Mobile,  refreshment  stand  and  a  candy  stripers  program. 

In  the  past  19  years  the  Auxiliary's  annua!  fund  raising 
projects  have  raised  over  $20,000.  These  funds  have  been 
instrumental  in  purchasing  laboratory  equipment,  hospital 
beds  and  furniture,  an  incubator,  air  conditioners,  oxygen 
equipment,  a  heart  monitoring  machine,  and  sponsoring  an 
annual  health  careers    scholarship. 


One  of  the  ser\  ices  provided  to  hospital  patients  by  members  of 
the  Hospital  .Auxiliary  is  serving  juice  and  cookies  each  af- 
ternoon. Faithful  members  for  many  years  were  Mrs.  Marie 
Whallon  <left>  and  .Mrs.  Emma  Jensen. 


64 


OLD    SWIMMING    HOLE 


GIBSON  CITY  SWIMMING  POOL 
(iibson  City  has  been  fortunate  to  have  a  swimming  pool  since  the  middle  192ll's.  In  l!)r>7  the 
original  pool's  deep  end  was  filled  to  a  shallower  depth  when  a  new  diving  pool  was  added.  At  the 
same  time  a  wading  pool  for  small  children  was  built.  Above  Donna  \>rkler  instructs  a  group  of 
potential  swimmers  during  Red  Cross  lessons.  The  diving  pool  is  at  top  right  and  the  wading  pool 
is  to  the  left. 


R 
E 
C 
R 
E 
A 
T 
I 
0 


AND 

ATHLETIC 
EVENTS 


65 


■^^IS^ 


Gibson  City  Athletic  Club  in  1S92.  Bottom  row.  from  left.  Art  (irant.  Sum  Ward.  Percy  Morris, 
l.indsey.  Second  row  -  Will  Wilson.  Ed  Shaffer.  Harry  Spaulding.  Frank  Haiipt.  Dr.  Chapman.  B 
Strauss.  Top  row  -  Will  Slater,  Rolla  McClure.  S.  Palmer,  Loyal  Wright,  Harry  Worrell,  Jas. 
pent,  Lon  McClure. 


John 
ryson 
Pier- 


ATHLETICS 

Athletics  have  always  been  very  important  to  Gibson  City. 
One  of  the  first  was  the  Athletic  Club  which  was  located  in 
what  is  now  the  Masonic  Lodge.  They  had  about  twenty 
members  Their  main  event  was  boxing.  They  had  several 
good  boxers  and  brought  in  men  from  other  towns  and  held 
boxing  meets  about  twice  a  month.  This  was  around  the  year 
1890. 

In  the  early  days  Gibson  had  a  very  good  football  team 
which  played  all  of  the  larger  towns  in  Central  Illinois.  They 
built  up  a  very  good  reputation  as  one  of  the  best  teams. 

Gibson  has  always  been  a  great  baseball  center.  They  have 
had  many  great  teams''through  the  years.  At  one  time  the 
baseball  games  were  played  at  the  Fairgrounds  which  was 
west  of  the  Canning  Company.  Then  after  Drummer  High 
School  was  built  baseball  was  played  on  the  high  school 
diamond.  The  last  independent  baseball  team  was  around 
\9\5.  After  baseball  there  was  the  Softball  league  which 
played  on  a  diamond  south  of  the  Nickle  Plate  depot.  For 
several  years  there  was  a  lot  of  interest  in  the  league.  They 
played  two  games  a  night,  five  nights  a  weelc  during  the 
summer  time.  Then  after  that  they  had  a  league  for  the 
different  towns.  Central  Soya  represented  Gibson  City  and 
they  had  a  great  team.  Now  we  have  a  new  diamond  east  of 
the  North  Park  with  bleachers  and  a  refreshment  stand 
where  small  leaguers  and  the  commercial  leagues  play 
nearly  every  night  of  the  week  under  lights  with  very  good 
crowds 

Then  Gibson  became  basketball  conscious  and  we  had  one 
of  the  best  basketball  courts  in  Central  Illinois,  the  Hunt 
Coliseum  It  was  built  for  a  roller  skating  rink  and  they  really 
had  several  years  of  fine  skating.  People  came  from  all  over 
Central  Illinois  to  skate  here  Then  tine  Yours  Truly  Basket 
Ball  Club  was  formed  named  after  the  brand  of  pork  and 
beans  canned  at  the  canning  company.  It  was  made  up  of 
home  town  boys.  They  played  all  the  best  teams  in  Illinois 


and  one  year  the  Independent  Basketball  Tournament  for  the 
state  championship  was  held  here  which  the  Yours  Truly 
won  and  was  state  champion.  There  were  teams  from 
Chicago  and  all  the  states  here.  The  Yours  Truly  played  for  a 
number  of  years  until  the  new  high  school  gymnasium  was 
build  and  Hunts  Coliseum  was  moved  to  south  Sangamon 
Avenue  and  became  a  cheese  factory. 

Another  thmg  Gibson  had  one  wmter  m  the  Hunts  Coliseum 
was  wrestling  matches.  There  was  a  man  who  moved  to 
Gibson  City  and  he  was  a  big  man  in  wrestling.  We  had 
several  matches  between  him  and  some  of  the  best  wrestlers 
in  the  United  States  until  we  had  the  world  championship 
middle  weight  wrestling  match  in  Gibson  City  in  which  our 
man  lost  by  one  fall. 

Then  in  the  space  of  one  year  our  swimming  habits  were 
changed  from  the  old  swimming  hole  in  the  Cordie  Ogg's 
farm  to  the  new  swimming  pool  built  across  from  the  North 
Park.  We  thought  it  was  certainly  wonderful,  a  wading  pool, 
swimmmg  pool  and  a  diving  pool.  At  that  time  we  thought  it 
was  the  finest  in  the  state  but  it  has  been  brought  up  to  date 
and  you  wouldn't  know  the  old  pool  after  seeing  the  new  pool. 

Back  in  the  1930's  Gibson  had  a  very  good  nine  hole  Golf 
Course  on  the  McKeever  farm  west  of  Gibson  City  which 
brought  several  teams  from  other  towns  for  meets.  Gibson 
won  their  share  of  meets  and  a  lot  of  persons  spent  several 
summers  enjoying  the  golf  course. 

Gibson  has  always  had  a  gun  club  through  the  years 
located  in  different  places.  Always  before  the  holidays  they 
had  meets  for  game  such  as  turkeys,  geese,  ducks  and 
chickens.  They  had  very  good  crowds.  The  meets  would 
usually  start  about  10  in  the  morning  and  last  nearly  all  day. 

Gibson  got  its  first  bowling  alley  in  the  1930's  and  there  has 
been  a  bowling  alley  in  some  location  every  since  -  uptown  at 
first.  Now  we  havi  two  real  good  bowling  alleys.  Both  have 
league  games  every  night  during  the  week  which  (?ives  a  lot 
of  people  entertainment. 


66 


Champion  Basketball  Team  of  1911  - 
1!M2  of  Drummer  Township  High 
School.  Left  to  right  -  F'ranklin 
Barber.  Owen  Harry.  Prof.  B.  L. 
Pilcher.  Russell  Richards.  Herbert 
Bloom.  Front  -  Herman  Krudup. 


Football  Captain  -  Loyal  Wright 


YOURS  TRl'LY  BASKKTBAI.L  TFAM  of  I!M;!  ■  1 1  thrilled  audiences  at  the  old  Coliseum  with  their 
skill  and  fancy  ball  handling.  The  (libson  City  Canning  Company  furnished  the  suits ;  se\  en  all  -  wool 
ones  cost  $10(1.  and  the  second  year  each  player  received  a  matching  sweater.  Players  pictured  at  top 
left  to  right  ■  Haltie  .Vshby.  "Doc"  Shawl.  Dr.  Frank  Hunt  (coach  i.  Franklin  "Daddy"  Barber.  Dane 
Andersen;  Second  row  •  Kd  "Bosco"  Bonnen.  Herbert  "Kat"  Bloom.  Herman  "Dutch"  Krudup. 
Sitting  in  front  -  Wiley  "Bud"  Hunt. 


67 


The  Modern  Woodmen  Drill  Team,  (amp  No.  2:15,  had  a  very  active  group  that  traveled  around 
Central  Illinois  performing  in  parades  and  for  recreation.  The  commands  of  their  drill  master.  Tim 
Bigger,  could  he  heard  for  quite  some  distance,  as  he  was  a  seasoned  veteran  of  the  Spanish 
American  War  and  World  War  I.  Pictured  in  March  l!)lfi  are  (top  row  from  lefti  Tim  Bigger.  Drill 
Master;  Lawrence  Swanson.  Simon  Salmonson.  Charles  Hays,  Harper  Glenn,  Harper  Vernon.  John 
S.  Stevens.  (Middle  row)  Hampton  Bergstrom,  Charles  Chambers,  Wa>ne  Sawyer,  (unidentified 
man).  (Bottom  row)  William  Brading.  Roy  Keitlinger,  Walter  Piatt,  Raymond  (Teter)  Phillips. 


The  Republican  Glee  Club  of  ISSS  furnished  beautiful  music  for  many  political  and  other  events. 
Those  identifiable  are  from  left  -  Sam  Preston,  John  Pierpont,  and  extreme  right  James  Pierpont 
(twin  brother  of  John.)  Other  members  pictured  are  John  Ewing.  R.  R.  Baily  (auctioneer),  and 
Henry  Preston. 


68 


(;ibson  Citys  Hook  and  Ladder  Team  were  State  Champions  in  1900.  From  left  top  row  - 
Ed  Croddv.  J.  H.  C.regory.  VV.  Thomas,  Kirk  Gregory.  Loyal  Wright.  Albert  Cilchrisl. 
Frank  Patton.  Second  row  -  Forest  Eggleston.  Wm.  ONeal.  Hark  Harry.  Forrest  Nagle, 
Ira  Oilmore.  Front  row  -  Fred  Jones,  Chas.  Kelso,  Guy  Haupt,  Bert  Ball. 


^%Joaife^  J 


fi-  -k^%  K^% 


S:^ 


FIKKMKN  TKAM 

The  (iibson  City  Hose  Team,  composed  of  volunteer  firemen,  each  summer  engaged  in 
competiti\e  sport  with  other  city  teams,  to  learn  which  team  could  throw  Ihe  fartherest 
stream  of  water  in  the  least  niimher  of  seconds  Members  in  IS!IS  were  Hop  row.  from 
left!  Forrest  Kg^ileston.  I'reslon  Wright.  Wm  .S  I)u\ .  (»tt  I'off;  middle  row.  .lack 
Mctiarry.  Wm  I*  Thomas,  .lack  .•^Icphcns.  \lt>crl  (iilchrist.  and  Ira  (lilmore;  bottom 
row.  Oscar  Keadels.  (has.  Kelso.  Wm.  ONeil  and  (iuy  Haupt. 


69 


T 


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AND 
EDUCATION 


70 


THE  FIRST  ASSKMBI.V  OK  OOD  Clll  lUII 

Feeling  the  need  of  a  Full  CJospel  Church  in  ihis  city,  a 
group  of  twelve  persons  met  al  the  home  of  Willard 
Thomason  in  August.  1960.  and  held  Sunday  School  classes 
and  prayer  meetings 

A  few  months  later  the  group  rented  the  former  Pilgrim 
Holiness  church  building  on  West  9th  St.  where  the  Rev.  J.  C. 
Lewis  was  the  first  pastor. 

In  the  year  1%2  the  Rev.  Roger  Boyd  became  the  pastor, 
and  the  longregation  purchased  the  Lutheran  Church 
building  and  parsonage  on  thecorner  of  8thand  Melvin  Sts.  in 
March  1964 

The  Rev  Ciary  Royer  came  as  minister  of  the  church  in 
1968  He  was  followed  by  his  father,  the  Rev  Elmer  L.  Royer 
in  January.  1971.  who  is  the  present  pastor. 

The  congregation  is  enjoying  the  many  blessings  of  the 
Lord,  and  is  averaging  43  in  attendance. 


GIBSON'S  FIRST  ASSEMBLY  OF  GOD 


r.lHSONCITY 
CUl'RCH  OK  TIIK  \A/ARENE 


The  First  Church  of  the  Nazarene  in  Gibson  City  was 
organized  March  17,  1963,  by  the  Chicago  Central  District  of 
the  Church  of  the  Nazarene  It  was  started  as  a  home  mission 
project  under  the  direction  of  Rev  Marvin  Cockman.  A 
chapel-parsonage  was  constructed  at  the  corner  of  Fourth 
and  Guthrie  where  it  is  still  located. 

The  pastors  of  the  church  have  been:  the  Rev.  Raymond 
Stockman  (1963-66);  the  Rev.  Harold  Frye  (1966-67);  the 
Rev.  Claude  Diehl  (1967-68);  and  the  Rev.  Kenneth  Floyd 
(1968-69)  The  Rev.  John  Bouldrey,  present  pastor,  is  in  his 
second  year  of  the  pastorate. 

The  church  and  its  people  extend  a  warm  hand  of  Christian 
friendship  to  the  community,  welcoming  anyone  who  visits 
the  church 


.^^tg  ^ 


FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH 


The  First  Baptist  Church,  628  South  Church  St..  Gibson 
City,  has  not  always  had  the  name  of  First  Baptist.  The 
church  was  organized  in  1950  as  The  Conservative  Baptist 
Church,  with  Rev  Robert  D.  Oman  of  Chicago,  III.  as  the  first 
pastor.  The  first  worship  services  were  conducted  in  the 
home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kermit  Gosser.  who  are  still  members. 

As  the  Conservative  Baptist  Group,  the  Wantwood  School 
building  was  rented  for  worship  services.  Later  in  1952  they 
purchased  another  school  building  for  their  worship  services. 
After  the  purchase  of  this  property  in  1953,  the  church  voted 
to  petition  the  Southern  Baptist  Convention  for  affiliation.  At 
this  time  they  voted  to  change  the  name  from  the  Con- 
•servated  Baptist  Church  to  the  First  Baptist  Church. 

In  1956  the  lot  at  628  S.  Church  St.,  upon  which  the  church 
plant  is  now  located,  was  purchased.  The  ground-breaking 
ceremony  was  conducted  with  the  members  present,  and  the 
first  spade  of  earth  turned  over  by  Henry  Forhn.  This  was  the 
beginning  of  the  building  of  the  church  which  is  presently  The 
First  Baptist  Church,  (affilicated  with  the  Southern  Baptist 
Convention)  of  Gibson  City. 

The  present  pastor  is  Everett  S.  George. 


71 


THE  FIRST  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH 

The  first  meeting  place  of  this  group  was  in  the  Canterbury 
School  northeast  of  Gibson  in  1869.  From  there  they  went  to 
the  loft  of  a  building  where  John  Moore  had  his  wagon  shop 
(1871). 

The  congregation  was  formally  organized  on  Feb.  15,  1872, 
with  19  members,  under  the  leadership  of  the  Rev.  G.  W. 
Campbell.  At  that  time  it  was  called  the  Church  of  Christ. 

The  most  prominent  member  in  that  early  day  was  J.  B. 
Lott,  the  founder  of  Gibson  City.  His  wife,  known  as  "aunt 
Maggie",  was  a  faithful  helper  and  donated  the  building  site. 
The  bricks  for  that  building  were  donated  by  Andrew  Jordan 
who  made  them  in  his  brick  yard.  The  church  was  erected  at 
the  southeast  cornerof  Sangamon  Ave.  and  11th  St. 

To  raise  money  to  meet  back  obligations  a  poll  tax  of  75 
cents  per  male  member  per  month  was  levied  in  1874.  Also,  a 
resolution  was  passed  that  a  tax  of  one  per  cent  of  the  actual 
value  of  the  property  of  each  and  every  member  of  the 
congregation  be  levied,  sufficient  to  raise  the  balance  of  the 
money  necessary  to  meet  expenses.  There  is  no  record  of  how 
successful  the  venture  was. 

One  of  the  church's  prominent  ministers  was  Rev.  Steven 
Fisher,  who  resigned  here  to  become  pastor  of  University 
Place  Church  in  Urbana,  where  he  was  very  instrumental  in 
establishing  Illinois  Disciples  Foundation  on  campus  in 
Urbana. 

Another  of  their  ministers  went  on  to  become  the  president 
of  Eureka  College.  He  was  the  Rev.  Louis  Lehman 

The  Rev.  R.  M.  Luedde  was  pastor  for  27  years  during 
which  lime,  he  taught  in  the  public  schools,  became  Vice 
President  of  Illinois  State  School  Board  Association,  served 
as  president  of  Ford  Co.  Sunday  School  Association,  and  for 
five  years  was  president  of  the  Illinois  Christian  Education 
Commission.  He  was  well  known  throughout  this  area. 

The  old  church  building  at  Sangamon  Ave.  and  nth  St  was 
lorn  down  in  March,  1971.  shortly  after  the  congregation 
moved  to  its  beautiful,  modern  structure  located  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  Sangamon  Avenue  and  12th  Street.  Cost 
of  the  new  edifice  was  $225,000.  The  site  of  the  church  was 
given  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawson  Tjardes. 

The  first  worship  ser\'ice  was  held  in  the  new  building  Feb. 


28,  1971,  and  was  formally  dedicated  June  6,  1971.  At  the 
present  time  the  minister  is  the  Rev.  Hugh  A.  Reynolds  Jr. 

The  sanctuary  seats  212  and  the  choir  loft  at  the  rear  of  the 
sanctuary  seats  35.  The  fellowship  hall  can  seat  125  at  tables. 
The  gaily-type  kitchen  can  be  used  for  serving  receptions, 
dinners  and  other  occasions.  Landscaping  is  to  be  completed 
in  the  near  future. 

Coder-Taylor  Associates  of  Kenilworth  were  the  ar- 
chitects. Robert  Rasmussen,  son  of  Mrs.  Rose  Ramussen  and 
the  late  Harvey  Rasmussen,  was  the  project  architect. 
StoUer  &  Maurer  of  Fairbury  were  general  contractors. 

The  former  church  site  was  sold  and  Champaign 
Production  Credit  Association  will  build  a  new  office  at  that 
location. 


COMMUNITY  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH 

On  June  30,  1953,  a  group  of  41  people  met  at  the  home  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Raymond  Ropp  and  voted  to  organize  a  new 
church,  which  was  named  Community  Christian  Church.  The 
articles  set  forth  in  the  very  beginning  were  in  keeping  with 
the  Disciples  of  Christ;  to  foster  Christian  love  and 
Brotherhood,  and  to  cooperate  in  all  the  Brotherhood 
Programs  of  the  Disciples  of  Christ  Church.  There  were  80 
charter  members. 

On  July  5th,  1953,  the  first  Sunday  School  and  worship 
services  were  held  in  the  Edna  Theatre.  In  December,  1953, 
the  congregation  met  in  the  Legion  Hall,  until  a  suitable  site 
could  be  obtained  for  a  structure. 

Lots  were  purchased  for  the  present  church  on  Route  54,  at 
12th.  and  Lawrence  Streets  for  $3000  from  Ruth  Ringland 
Rains.  Estimated  cost  of  the  education  department  of  the 
building  was  $20,000  to  $25,000,  with  the  members  doing  a 
great  share  of  the  work.  The  main  sanctuary  was  to  be 
constructed  in  future  years. 

Ground  breaking  ceremonies  were  held  Sunday,  May  16. 
1954.  On  June  23,  1954,  the  corner-stone  was  laid.  The  first 
services  were  held  in  the  new  church  on  March  6th,  1955.  The 
new  building  was  dedicated  Sunday,  November  20,  1955. 

The  Rev.  Dean  McGrew  has  been  the  pastor  since  March 
26,  1961. 


y^^XS:::-^ 


•m 


72 


United  Brethren  Church  and  Parsonage,  Gibson  Cfty,  III, 


L  ■LOOHIIiaTeH.    ' 


^^^LLI  '^1  il 

<    -AUil 

'.—^^u^^^^^^^^^liB 

P^fjp-pp^Pf! 

IMTKI)  BKKTIIKKN  (III  lU  II 


In  the  year  1875,  the  quarterly  conference  of  the  Elliott 
charge  appointed  a  Board  of  Trustees,  consisting  of  C  J 
Buchner,  J  C  Thornton.  Peter  Main.  Sr..  Rev.  L.  L  Rincharl 
and  John  Wagner.  Esq..  to  lake  under  advisement  the 
feasibility  of  building  a  church  house  for  the  L'nited  Brethren 
in  Christ  in  Gibson  In  the  following  August  began  the 
erection  of  what  was  known  as  the  Brethren  Church  in 
(libson.  and  on  the  8th  day  of  January.  187H.  it  was  finished 
and  dedicated  to  the  ser\ice  of  G<xd.  The  building  was  4.S  feel 
long.  :?()  leet  wide  and  18  feet  ceiling.  II  had  a  belfry  and  a 
vestibule  and  cost  $1850. 

During  the  year  1876  Rev.  F.  R.  Milchel  was  the  pastor. 


.serving  his  second  year  on  the  charge  He  organized  a  l'nited 
Brethren  society  in  (iibson  City. 

The  l'nited  Brethren  denomination  and  the  Evangelical 
denomination  united  in  1946.  hence  the  name  was  changed  to 
The  Evangelical  l'nited  Brethren  Church. 

In  July  1968.  the  United  Brethren  congregation  merged 
with  the  First  Methodist  congregation,  using  the  church 
facilities  of  the  First  Meth(xlists. 

The  KVB  church,  which  was  demolished  early  in  1971.  was 
dedicated  in  1917  The  Rev.  George  McClanathan  was  the 
pitslor  at  the  lime  of  the  dedication. 


73 


GIBSON  CITY  BIBLE  CHURCH 

The  Gibson  City  Bible  Church  began  as  a  result  of 
evangelistic  services  conducted  in  a  tent  on  the  present  site 
of  the  church  in  August  of  1950.  The  tent  services  were 
spf)nsored  by  a  ten  member  Inter-Community  Laymen's 
Group. 

This  layman's  group  established  a  Sunday  School  which 
first  me!  in  the  AME  church  on  Eighth  Street,  under  the 
direction  of  a  ten  member  council. 

Later  in  1951  the  first  stages  of  the  present  building  were 
completed  at  its  present  location  on  the  southwest  corner  of 
Sixth  and  Melvin  Streets.  Reverend  J.  A.  Heiser  of  Fisher 
was  the  first  pastor.  Members  of  the  original  church  council 
were  John  Bruehl,  Lewis  Birky,  Justus  Detwiler,  Earl 
Birkey,  Carl  Young,  Lloyd  Heiser,  Orval  Schrock,  Dave 
Schiavo,  Willard  Heiser  and  Sam  Zehr.  A  second  work  was 
established  on  the  west  side  of  Gibson  City  called  the  West 
Side  Chapel,  which  has  since  been  discontinued. 

The  church  is  currently  under  the  direction  of  its  third 
pastor,  Rev.  James  Walsh.  The  church  employs  a  youth 
director,  Clyde  Ingold,  who  is  a  lifetime  resident  of  Fisher. 

Presently  22  of  the  church's  membership  are  serving  in 
Christian  Service.  Of  these,  nine  are  serving  as  foreign 
missionaries,  and  six  are  either  ministers  or  minister's 
wives,  in  the  United  States.  Of  the  church's  $.31,620  annual 
budget,  more  than  half  is  designated  for  foreign  missions. 

Having  a  present  membership  of  239  members,  the  Bible 
Church  is  one  of  Gibson  City's  fastest  growing  churches. 


.M:il(t\  \ll  sui  I  \|  SSI  s 

.Ichii\uhs  Witnesses  established  a  cuimrt'galion  in  Gibson 
City  m  June.  19fi7, 

The  local  congregation  is  one  of  some  26.60(1  congregations 
in  206  countries  world-wide 

Present  attendance  at  the  Gibson  City  Kingdom  Hall  of 
.Jehovah's  Witnesses  is  60-65  persons  They  obtained  their 
present  building  in  1967. 

Jehovah's  Witnesses,  a  Christian  group  of  Bible  students, 
base  their  beliefs  and  conduct  on  early  Christianity  as  set 
forth  in  the  Bible  and  in  historical  records  from  the  early 
Chnstian  era. 

They  have  become  well-known  for  the  past  100  years  the 
world  over  for  their  house-to-house  preaching.  In  1970,  their 
combined  efforts  around  the  globe  resulted  in  267,581,120 
hours  .spent  sharing  Bible  truths  at  the  homes  of  the  public 
They  took  time  to  conduct  free  weekly  Bible  studies  in 
1,146, 378  homes  of  interested  persons  of  the  public  around  the 
world.  There  were  164,193  persons  from  all  nations  baptized 
as  Jehovah's  Witnesses  last  year. 

Jehovah's  Witnesses  invite  the  public  to  attend  their  Bible 
study  meetings  at  the  local  Kingdom  Hall,  323  N.  Lawrence. 

Since  the  local  congregation  was  formed  David  W.  Ellison 
has  served  as  presiding  minister. 


--r^*^. 


AMERICAN  EVANGELICAL  LUTHERAN  CHURCH 

In  the  year  1874  the  Swedish  population  of  Gibson  City 
began  to  grow.  As  the  population  grew,  the  need  for  a 
Lutheran  Church  was  seen.  One  was  built  at  Eighth  and 
Melvin  Streets  and  was  known  as  Salem  Lutheran  Church. 

Salem  Lutheran  Church  flourished  for  some  time.  The 
congregation  was  slow  in  shifting  from  the  Swedish  language 
to  English  and  the  membership  began  to  swindle.  In  1934  the 
church  was  closed  and  the  congregation  dissolved.  The 
building  stood  vacant  for  almost  ten  years. 

In  1942  a  considerable  number  of  Lutherans  had  moved  to 
Gibson  City.  An  appeal  was  made  to  the  American  Lutheran 


Church  to  investigate  the  possibility  of  establishing  a 
congregation  here.  The  Mission  Board  made  a  survey  and 
found  the  field  to  be  promising.  A  call  was  extended  to  the 
Reverend  Werner  Fritschel  of  Hebron,  Nebraska  where  he 
had  been  teaching  in  the  Hebron  Junior  College.  He  accepted 
the  Call  and  arrived  in  mid-summer  1942.  The  initial  service 
was  held  July  26  in  the  old  Salem  Lutheran  Church  at  10:30 
a.m. 

By  April,  1943,  the  congregation  had  grown  to  the  size  that 
it  could  be  organized  and  on  April  15,  at  7:30  p.m.  a  meeting 
was  held  in  the  old  Salem  Lutheran  Church  for  this  purpose. 
The  name  American  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Gibson 
City,  Illinois  was  adopted  and  the  congregation  was  duly 


74 


incorporated.  The  first  officers  were:  Trustees:  August 
Borchers,  Bernard  Scheiman  and  Aivin  Timke;  Deacons: 
Charles  Riblet  and  Milton  Fryitman. 

An  attempt  was  made  to  acquire  the  properties  of  the  old 
Salem  Church.  The  Augustana  Synod  was  very  generous  to 
us  in  that  they  offered  us  the  church  building  and  the  lot  it 
stood  on  for  only  $1000.00.  Later,  when  they  learned  that  we 
would  like  to  have  the  parsonage  for  the  pastor's  residence 
they  gave  it  to  us  as  an  outright  gift.  We  are  deeply  indebted 
to  the  Augustana  Synod  and  thank  them  for  their  very  real 
part  in  the  growth  of  this  congregation. 

After  being  vacant  for  ten  years  both  the  church  and  house 
needed  repair  and  improvement.  One  of  the  main  im- 
provements, dedicated  January  16,  1944,  was  a  new  set  of 
church  windows.  In  1949  the  congregation  became  self 
supporting. 

In  1%4  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Carl  Grabemann  a 
new  church  was  built  east  of  town  on  Route  No.  9.  The 
dedication  service  was  held  Sunday,  March  8.  1%4.  After 
Rev.  Grabemann's  death  in  1966,  Rev.  O.  H.  Kreiter  was 
called  and  is  currently  serving  as  pastor.  A  new  parsonage 
was  also  built.  The  old  church  and  parsonage  were  sold  to  the 
First  Assembly  of  God. 


OUR  LADY  OF  LOURDES  CATHOLIC  CHURCH 

The  first  date  in  connection  with  Catholicism  in  Gibson  City 
is  1875.  At  this  time  Rev.  John  Fannin  came  from  Fairbury, 
111.,  occasionally  and  said  masses  in  the  homes  for  the  12 
members.  These  masses  were  said  probably  not  oftener  than 
monthly. 

In  1884  Rev.  John  Kelly  built  the  first  Catholic  Church  in 
the  south  part  of  Gibson  City,  on  lot  7  of  Block  18,  on  the 
corner  of  Third  (now  Fifth)  street  and  Church  in  Guthrie's 
Addition  to  Gibson  City. 

Records  show  that  between  1882  and  1891  Franciscan 
Priests  from  Bloomington,  111.,  served  this  parish-probably 
using  the  Lake  Erie  and  Western  Railroad  as  their  mode  of 
transportation. 

On  March  25, 1892,  Thomas  R.  Wiley  and  wife  Mae,  sold  to 


RT.  Rev.  Jos.  S.  Spaulding,  Bishop  of  Peoria  Diocese,  Lots  1 
and  2  in  Block  39,  First  Addition  to  Gibson  City,  111. 

In  December  of  1891,  Rev.  Joseph  P.  Barry  became  the 
pastor  and  in  the  spring,  following  the  purchase  of  the  lots  on 
N.  Wood  St.,  supervised  the  building  of  the  first  Rectory. 
(This  building  was  recently  replaced  by  the  present  Rec- 
tory. )  Father  Parry  was  in  poor  health,  and  because  of  this, 
his  family  paid  to  have  the  church  moved  from  the  Church 
Street  location  to  Lot  2  of  Block  39  North  Wood  St.  At  this 
time,  Roberts,  Melvin,  and  Farmer  City  were  out-missions  of 
Gibson  City. 

In  1910  Rev.  J.  T.  FitzGerald  became  the  pastor.  He 
supervised  the  planning  and  the  erection  of  the  present 
Church.  The  comer  stone  of  the  new  church  was  laid  by 
Bishop  Edmund  Dunne  of  Peoria  and  the  Sacrament  of 
Confirmation  was  administered  in  1913.  The  new  church  was 
opened  to  the  public,  for  the  first  time  on  Sunday,  February 
22,  1914.  It  was  not  formally  dedicated  at  that  time  as  Bishop 
Dunne  was  in  Europe.  It  was  solemnly  blessed  by  Very  Rev. 
J.  J.  Shannon,  Vicar  General  of  the  Peoria  Diocese. 

In  May  of  1917  Rev.  John  L.  McMullen  was  appointed  to  the 
Gibson  City  and  outmissions.  In  1922  St.  Rose  Church, 
Strawn,  was  made  an  out-mission  of  Our  Lady  of  Lourdes  in 
addition  to  St.  George,  Melvin  and  Immaculate  Conception, 
Roberts. 

Some  time  between  1930  and  December  1934  Roberts  was 
transferred  as  a  mission  to  Piper  City  and  St.  Joseph  Church 
of  Colfax  was  added  to  Our  a  Lady  of  Lourdes. 

In  1959  Rev.  William  Kirk  was  appointed  pastor  of  Gibson 
City  and  directed  the  building  of  the  Religious  Center  in 
Gibson  City.  In  1963  he  was  transferred  to  Wheaton.  While  in 
Wheaton  he  was  severly  burned  in  a  fire  in  his  rectory  and 
died.  The  Religious  Center  here  then  was  named  in  his  honor 
"The  Father  Kirk  Memorial  Center". 

Rev.  James  Duffy  came  to  Gibson  City  after  Father  Kirk's 
transfer  to  Wheaton. 

Rev.  Vytas  Mememas  replaced  Rev.  James  Duffy  in  1%7 
Under  his  direction  the  new  rectory  was  built  and  the  church 
renovated. 


75 


CHURCH  OF  CHRIST 


In  January,  1939  four  families  began  meeting  for  worship 
at  Guthrie  Community  Hall.  This  was  the  beginning  of  what 
was  later  to  become  the  Gibson  City  Church. 

A  lot  was  purchased  in  Guthrie  in  June,  1949,  and  a  building 
was  moved  onto  this  lot  for  a  meeting  house.  The  Brethern 
began  to  meet  in  this  building  for  the  first  time  in  January, 
1950. 

In  May,  1965,  a  new  church  building  was  constructed  in 
Gibson  City  and  in  August,  1965,  the  congregation  was  moved 
from  Guthrie  and  began  meeting  in  the  new  meeting  house. 

The  one  acre  of  land  on  which  the  new  church  was  erected 
was  donated  by  Elmo  Meiners  of  M  &  W  Gear  Co.  The  cost  of 
the  building  was  approximately  $45,000  and  is  located  just 
south  of  town  on  Rt.  47.  The  sanctuary  will  seat  275.  Ad- 
ditional seating  for  75  is  available  in  a  balcony  at  the  rear  of 
the  auditorium.  There  are  10  classrooms. 

The  present  minister  is  Larry  Darnall. 

From  the  original  four  families  which  began  meeting  in 
Guthrie  in  January,  1939,  our  membership  has  grown  to  over 
130 


ALEXANDER  CHAPEL 

The  African  Methodist  Church  was  organized  in  Gibson 
City  in  1877  by  the  Rev.  Aaron  Ward  Charter  members  were 
Mark  and  Melissa  Anthony,  Betty  Manson,  Ellen  Smith  and 
Mr   and  Mrs.  Allen  Sjpeckard. 

Their  first  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $600  and  since 
that  time  there  has  been  a  congregation  in  town  to  ac- 
commodate those  who  wished  to  attend 

Negro  citizens  started  the  church  when  they  came  here 
from  Burr  Oaks  where  they  worked  for  Michael  Sullivant  on 
■his  extensive  farm  holdings.  Some  chose  to  remain  in  this 
area  after  Sullivant  lost  much  of  his  property  and  they  came 
to  Gibson  City. 

The  church  is  now  known  as  Alexander  Chapel. 


This  page  sponsored  by 
Peter  Eckrich  &  Sons,  Inc.,  First  National  Bank 
and  Trust  Company  in  Gibson  City,  The  Fashion 
Shop  and   Ford      Iroquois  FS,   Inc. 


76 


IV«i»byitf(»;»  Cho.-^h,  Ofttan  Cdy,  111. 


i^.'7-»'' 


'.^rti 


77 


TlIK  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

A  petition  signed  by  18  persons  was  presented  to 
Bloomington  Presbytery  on  Sept.  26th,  asking  for  the 
organization  of  a  Presbyterian  Church  at  Gibson  City.  The 
petition  was  granted  and  on  Oct.  28th,  1871,  the  same  year  in 
which  the  town  was  founded,  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Gibson  City  was  organized. 

The  first  meeting  place  was  the  North  Union  School  house 
four  miles  northwest  of  Gibson  City,  the  organizing  minister 
was  the  Rev.  R.  A.  Criswell  who  was  also  the  shepherd  of  the 
flock  for  the  ensuing  four  years. 

Among  the  21  charter  members  were  Mrs.  Ruth  E. 
Gilmore  and  Mrs.  Sarah  McKeever.  These  two  names  are 
still  represented  on  the  present  membership  list,  there  being 
several  Gilmores  and  McKeevers  with  other  of  their 
relatives  now  in  the  church  in  1971. 

As  soon  as  Gibson  took  on  the  semblance  of  a  town,  the 
congregation  came  to  where  the  people  were,  and  held  their 
services  in  Gilmore  hall  or  in  Guthrie  Hall  and  on  some  oc- 
casions in  the  Illinois  Central  Depot,  where  the  pews  were 
planks  and  where  the  pulpit  was  a  barrell.  This  latter  place 
was  often  used  by  other  denominational  groups  for  their 
place  of  worship. 

The  first  building  was  planned  in  1874,  but  due  to  the 
hardships  of  the  season  it  was  not  completed  until  1875.  The 
church  cost  $3500.  Money  was  tight  and  18  percent  interest 
had  to  be  paid  at  the  bank  on  that  which  was  borrowed. 

By  the  turn  of  the  century  the  little  Gothic  style  church  was 
outgrown  and  in  1902  a  new  building,  the  present  one,  was 
erected  on  the  sight  of  the  old  at  Church  and  Eleventh 
Streets. 

An  organization  within  the  Church  that  has  lasted  over  60 
years  is  the  Sunshine  Class  which  has  contributed  to  the 
finances,  to  the  kitchen  equipment,  to  the  roll  of  teachers, 
and  to  the  lasting  memory  of  faithful  participants. 

In  1906  the  Cumberland  Presbbyterian  Church-l-  merged 
with  this  First  Presbyterian  and  brought  a  sizeable  influx  of 
new  members. 

In  1950  a  new  kitchen  was  added  (o  the  big  brick  structure 
In  this  centennial  year  a  new  Christian  Education  addition 
costing  $115,000  has  been  completed.  The  new  addition  was 
dedicated  Sunday,  April  25,  1971.  The  church  will  officially 
obser\e  its  Centennial  year  on  Sunday,  October  24,  1971.  The 
present  minister  is  Dr.  Chester  E.  Chandler. 


+The  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  originally  called 
the  Hopewell  Congregation  was  organized  at  Drummer 
Grove  School  one  mile  Northwest  of  Gibson  City  on  Dec  19, 
1868  by  the  Rev.  J.  R.  Lawrence. 

Their  building,  completed  in  the  fall  of  1873,  was  one  of  the 
first  churches  in  town.  Their  congregation  was  noted  for 
being  a  dressy  group,  and  their  main  leader  was  Ben  Mc- 
Clure  who  was  known  to  all  the  school  children  as  Uncle  Ben. 
Some  of  his  descendants,  along  with  the  Knapps,  the  Hustons 
and  the  Jardines  -  (all  related  to  charter  members)  are  still 
members  of  this  merged  church  today. 


THE  UNITED  METHODIST  CHURCH 

The  first  meetings  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Society  were 
held  in  1872  in  the  old  Gault  House,  located  where  the  Legion 
Hall  now  stands.  Under  the  leadership  of  Rev  Job  Ingram. 
arrangements  were  made  to  hold  regular  services  in  what 
was  known  as  Gilmore  Hall  on  Sangamon  Avenue,   and 


meetings  were  held  here  until  the  church  was  built  the 
following  year,  1873.  on  the  corner  of  Church  and  Tenth 
streets  across  the  street  south  of  where  the  present  church 
stands.  This  church,  facing  north,  was  a  frame  building  with 
two  small  rooms  to  the  west,  one  for  a  vestibule  and  the  other 
for  Sunday  School  classes.  The  building  had  a  belfry  and  was 
heated  by  two  soft  coal  stoves.  The  total  cost  was  $2000. 

Times  were  hard,  money  was  scarce,  and  crops  poor. 
During  the  building  of  the  church,  a  group  of  women  met  in 
the  belfry  and  organized  a  Mite  Society,  their  object  being  to 
help  raise  money  for  the  building  of  the  church.  The  society 
afterwards  became  known  as  the  Ladies  Aid. 

Rev.  A.  C.  Byerly  had  succeeded  Rev.  Ingram  in  1873  and 
was  pastor  in  charge  when  the  church  was  finished,  serving 
for  two  years.  During  his  first  year  pastorate,  Mrs.  Byerly 
organized  the  Women's  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 

In  this  early  church  there  was  a  class  meeting  held  at  10:30 
a.m.  followed  by  the  worship  service  at  11  o'clock.  The 
Sunday  School  was  held  at  3  p.m.  The  first  Sunday  School 
superintendent  was  Charles  Wilson,  and  the  first  class  leader 
was  N.  S.  Garrell. 

In  1882  the  three  lots  where  the  present  church  and  par- 
sonage stand  were  purchased  for  $900.  The  next  year  a 
parsonage  was  built  at  the  site  of  the  present  one. 

In  1888  the  church  building  burned  to  the  ground.  Plans 
were  immediately  made  for  rebuilding.  A  frame  structure 
was  erected  on  the  site  of  the  present  church.  During  this 
time,  the  Ladies  Aid  was  actively  engaged  in  raising  funds  to 
help  defray  expenses  of  the  building.  This  second  building 
was  dedicated  on  October  28,  1888.  Rev.  Robert  Stevens  was 
pastor  at  the  time.  Th  cost  of  the  building  was  $4000. 

In  1892,  when  Rev.  W.  T.  Beadles  was  pastor,  the  old 
parsonage  was  sold  for  $200  and  a  new  one  was  built  and 
dedicated  on  December  31, 1892,  at  a  cost  of  $2,195.  On  March 
7, 1897,  the  church  again  caught  fire  and  was  badly  damaged. 
It  was  remodeled  with  a  basement  and  kitchen  added.  The 
Ladies  Aid,  Epworth  League,  and  Junior  League  furnished  it. 

During  these  first  25  years,  several  revival  meetings  were 
held,  increasing  the  membership  on  each  occasion, 
culminating  in  the  Great  Union  Revival  in  1906  under  the 
leadership  of  Billy  Sunday,  which  resulted  in  more  than  100 
uniting  with  the  Methodist  Church. 

In  1913,  when  it  became  necessary  to  make  extensive 
repairs  upon  the  church,  it  was  decided  that  a  new  church 
should  be  built  to  replace  the  1888  building.  The  cornerstone 
was  laid  in  the  late  summer  of  1913,  and  the  present  church 
was  completed  and  dedicated  on  August  30,  1914,  at  a  total 
cost  of  $34,070.  A  brick  parsonage  was  built  in  1951. 

In  1939,  the  Methodist  Church,  South,  and  the  Methodist 
Protestant  Church  united  with  the  M.E.,  the  new 
organization  assuming  the  name  of  simply  the  Methodist 
Church.  The  Ladies  Aid  and  Women's  Missionary  Society 
became  the  Women's  Society  of  Christian  Service. 

In  1966  extensive  remodeling  was  undertaken  in  the 
present  building  at  a  cost  of  $116,000. 

In  1968  the  Evangelical  United  Brethren  and  Methodist 
Churches  merged,  becoming  known  as  the  United  Methodist 
Church.  The  Elliott  U.M.  Church  became  a  yoked  parish  with 
the  Gibson  Church  when  the  former  EUB  and  Lutheran 
churches  of  Elliott  merged.  The  total  membership  of  the 
yoked  parish  is  990. 

The  church  is  presently  served  by  Rev.  John  R.  Curtis.  Jr. . 
senior  pastor,  and  Rev.  David  A.  Eadie,  associate,  who  also 
serves  the  Elliott  church. 


T 


78 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  Parsonage,  Olbsop  City,  III.      ^ 


/'7/-' 


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79 


HISTORY  OF  SCHOOLS 


(Editor's  Note:  The  following  article  was  prepared  by  Miss 
Evelyn  Dueringer,  a  teacher  and  librarian  in  the  high  school 
lor  many  years  and  now  retired.) 

The  first  school  was  established  in  the  prairie  days  when 
the  first  settlers  arrived  between  1852  and  1860.  Dr.  J.  E. 
Davis,  who  had  settled  on  the  prairie  on  what  is  now  the  John 
Foster  farm,  hired  a  private  teacher  in  the  fall  of  1863  by  the 
name  of  Miranda  HoUoway  and  invited  his  neighbor's 
children  to  his  home  for  education  with  his  own  children  in 
his  home. 

In  1865  in  the  northwest  part  of  Drummer  Township,  Mr. 
Asa  Centebury  followed  the  same  procedure  as  Dr.  J.  E. 
Davis  and  hired  a  teacher  by  the  name  of  Miss  Jennie  Frew 
of  Paxton  to  teach  in  his  home,  also  inviting  the  neighbors' 
children  to  be  taught  there. 

In  1866  the  Drummer  Grove  district  was  organized,  and  a 
school  house  was  built  near  Drummer  Grove.  It  was  on  the 
south  side  of  the  road  and  on  the  west  side  of  Drummer  Creek 
northwest  of  the  village  of  Gibson  on  the  Dr.  J.E.  Davis  farm. 
The  first  teacher  was  Mary  Ann  George.  The  children  of  the 
new  village  of  Gibson  had  to  go  to  this  school.  Some  of  those 
who  walked  from  the  village  to  the  Drummer  Grove  School 
before  there  was  a  s  school  in  the  village  were  Emma  Gentle, 
Sara  Gilmore,  and  Emma  Houdyshell.  Of  these,  the  known 
descendants  of  Emma  Gentle  are  the  Mottier  family,  who 
resided  northeast  of  Gibson  City  during  the  first  half  of  the 
20th  century.  Also,  relatives  of  Sara  Gilmore  living  in  the 
Gibson  City  area  are  descendants  of  her  uncle,  Albert  and 


Craig  Gilmore, 

In  1872  this  school  was  disbanded  due  to  overcrowding  from 
the  increasing  number  of  pupils  from  the  growing  village. 
The  building  was  purchased  by  George  Johnson,  house 
mover.  He  moved  it  to  Lot  9  on  the  west  side  of  State  Street 
and  converted  it  into  a  residence  for  his  family.  It  stood  just 
opposite  the  west  of  the  Jonathan  B.  Lott  home.  The  old 
historic  Drummer  Grove  schoolhouse  still  stands  at  527 
North  State  Street,  occupied  in  the  early  half  of  this  century 
by  the  David  Craddick  family,  and  presently  occupied  by 
Kenneth  Eck  and  family. 

In  the  fall  of  1872  a  new  school  district  was  organized, 
known  as  District  No.  3,  and  school  was  taught  in  Union  Hall, 
erected  on  the  west  side  of  Sangamon  Avenue,  north  of  the 
present  Moyer  Library,  where  the  home  of  Mrs.  Wm.  M.  Loy 
now  stands.  This  was  the  first  school  in  the  village  and  was 
taught  by  Miss  Caroline  Williams,  thus  giving  her  credit  for 
being  the  first  teacher  in  the  village  of  Gibson.  The  spring 
term  of  1873  was  taught  by  Mr,  D.  E.  Stover,  and  the  fall 
term  of  1873  Mr.  Jesse  Hubbard  was  secured  as  the  first 
superintendent  of  the  school,  as  there  were  too  many  children 
for  one  teacher.  Miss  Ruby  Sears  was  engaged  as  assistant. 

In  the  summer  of  1874  it  was  decided  to  build  a  new  school 
building,  as  by  this  time  the  village  of  Gibson  had  become  a 
boom  town  and  Union  Hall  was  not  large  enough  to  ac- 
commodate the  numerous  pupils.  The  directors  were  Charles 
Wilson,  T.  D.  Spaulding,  and  F.  S.  Church.  The  contract  was 
let  to  the  lowest  bidder,  who  was  J.  C.  Mather  of  Kankakee, 
and  work  was  started  in  July  and  finished  in  December  at  a 


School  children  were  housed  in  the  building  at  the  left  and 
opened  Friday.  Dec,  4,  1S74.  The  belfry  was  built  on 
Christmas  day  by  Fred  Potts  and  George  Wood,  pioneers 
carpenters  for  $15. 


The  bell  is  now  in  a  place  of  honor  at  the  entrance  to  the  unit 
office.  The  building  to  the  right  was  constructed  in  1888.  The 
entire  school  was  destroyed  by  fire  Jan.  10.  1912. 


80 


cost  of  ^10,000.  Two  new  teachers  were  engaged.  Miss  Anna 
Pike  and  Miss  Millie  Sheffer. 

There  was  a  basement  with  two  large  furnaces  with  plenty 
of  room  for  coal  and  kindling,  two  large  playrooms.  On  the 
first  floor  were  two  large  rooms  seating  64  each  room,  these 
housing  primary  grades.  Likewise,  on  second  floor  were  two 
large  rooms  each  seating  64  each,  housing  the  intermediate 
and  upper  grades. 

The  school  was  built  on  Lots  4  and  5  in  Block  31.  First 
Addition  to  Gibson,  on  the  west  half  of  the  block,  the  front 
entrance  facing  Mclvin  Street.  The  building  was  opened  on 
Friday,  December  4,  1874. 

It  had  a  large  belfry  built  on  Christmas  Day  by  Fred  Potts 
and  George  Wood,  pioneer  carpenters,  for  the  sum  of  $15.  The 
belfry  contained  a  very  large,  clear  sounding  bell  that  could 
be  heard  all  over  the  town  and  for  some  distance  out  on  the 
prairie  in  all  directions.  The  janitor  at  the  time  of  the  opening 
of  the  building  was  L.  L.  Flora.  He  was  well  loved  by  the 
children.  If  the  children  were  running  to  reach  school  on  time 
when  it  came  time  to  ring  the  bell,  he  was  known  to  hold  off 
on  the  "tardy  bell"  to  allow  them  to  enter  their  class  on  time. 

A  sidewalk   built  of  planks  completely   .surrounded  the 
building.  It  was  12  feet  wide  and  was  built  two  feet  off  the 
ground,  allowing  a  most  wondrous  playing  space  for  the 
children  on  those  days  when  the  ground  was  muddy. 

A  small  building  was  added  at  the  same  location  in  1882  and 
a  new  addition  to  the  original  brick  structure  in  1888.  so  that 
the  educational  system  at  that  time  was  located  in  one  unit 
and  valued  at  $30,000. 

On  January  10,  1912,  occurred  a  disastrous  fire  destroying 


the  entire  unit.  A  new  grade  school  building  was  completed  at 
the  same  location  in  1912  at  a  cost  of  $.50,000.  Plans  for  a  new 
high  school  building  at  the  north  end  of  town  had  been  in 
progress  since  1910.  and  that  building  (now  the  Junior  High 
School)  was  dedicated  Friday,  October  27.  1911  at  a  cost  of 
$65,000. 

Additional  buildings  have  been  added  as  needs  arose.  In 
1971  Gibson  City  boasLsa  most  up  -  to  -  date  educational  plant 
comparable  with  that  of  any  town  of  similar  size  in  the  state 
with  facilities  to  meet  educational  needs  of  every  child. 

The  present  Community  Unit  District  No.  1  consists  of  the 
following: 

Two  elementary  schools  (Elliott  and  Gibson)  Total 
enrollment  507. 

One  junior  high 
Enrollment  432. 

One  high  school 
enrollment  423. 


(2  buildings) 
(2   buildings) 


in  Gibson  City  -  Total 
in  Gibson  City 


Total 


1362. 


Total  enrollment 

Faculty  of  80  including  administrators. 

The  old  bell  used  in  the  first  school  building  was  saved  from 
the  1912  fire  and  kept  in  the  new  grade  school  where  it  lay  idle 
for  many  years.  It  now  stands  in  an  honored  place  at  the 
north  door   of  the  administrative  building  at  217  E.  17th  St. 

In  the  community  is  located  a  regional  office  of  the  Illinois 
Education  Association,  serving  10  surrounding  counties. 

Colleges  serving  the  immediate  area  are  Parkland  Junior 
College  in  Champaign.  University  of  Illinois  in  Champaign, 
Illinois  Stale  University  at  Normal,  and  Illinois  Wesleyan 
University  at  Bloomington. 


,^^ 


81 


GIBSON  CITY  HIGH  SCHOOL 


By  Bill  Ogg,  GCHS  junior 


The  first  high  school  in  Gibson  City  met  in  the  upper  story 
of  the  grade  school.  Classes  began  in  the  fall  of  1876,  with  the 
first  class,  of  four  members,  graduating  in  1880  The  second 
class  had  eight  members,  and  the  class  of  '82  had  only  three 
members.  The  school  was  then  called  Gibson  City  High 
School.  There  are  very  few  records  available  of  the  first  high 
school. 

In  1911,  due  to  the  grade  school  fire,  it  was  necessary  to 
build  a  new  school.  Separate  buildings  for  the  grade  school 
and  the  high  school  were  built.  In  that  time  our  high  school 
(the  present  Jr.  High  building)  was  considered  an  out- 
standing school  in  the  state.  Mr.  Albert  Poplett,  who  gave  the 
school  twenty-six  years  of  service,  helped  to  build  the 
building. 

With  the  new  school,  a  new  district  was  formed  which  took 
in  the  entire  township.  The  school  name  became  D.T.H.S.  In 
the  fall  of  1911  the  new  high  school  opened  its  doors  to  120 
students.  There  were  twenty  members  in  the  class  of  '12  the 
first  class  to  graduate  from  the  new  high  school. 

At  that  time  Baccalaureate  was  held  in  the  Methodist 
Church.  This  was  the  first  year  that  baccalaureate  service 
was  held.  Commencement  was  held  at  the  Chautauqua 
Pavilion  in  the  North  Park.  Mrs.  Ruth  Loy  remarked  that  the 
most  unusual  thing  about  the  high  school  graduation  was  that 
the  students  had  charge  of  the  entire  program.  One  of  the 
highlights  of  graduation  of  1923  was  a  trumpet  solo  by  Ethel 
Bulger.  (Mrs.  Kumler,  whom  many  of  us  had  for  a  fourth 
grade  teacher.)  Another  highlight  was  The  Hatchet 
Oration.'  This  was  given  by  a  senior  girl,  dressed  in  an  Indian 
costume.  The  oration  was  taken  from  Longfellow's 
"Hiawatha."  At  the  end  of  the  oration,  she  would  present  the 
torch  to  a  representative  from  the  junior  class,  who  would 
give  a  short  response,  on  behalf  of  the  entire  class.  There  was 
a  great  deal  of  feeling  which  went  along  with  this  tradition, 
which  was  discontinued  in  the  latter  1920's. 

The  early  drama's  were  held  also  at  the  Chautaqua 
Pavilion  in  the  North  Park.  The  Pavilion  was  protected  from 
rains  by  doors  all  away  around  it.  The  only  problem  was  if  it 
rained  several  inches;  then  the  pavilion  started  to  flood. 

In  the  fall  of  1922  Mr.  Loy  came  to  Drummer.  In  that  year 
he  organized  the  first  student  council.  He  also  organized  and 
directed  the  first  boy's  glee  club.  Charter  members  who  still 
reside  in  this  area  include  Frank  Hunt,  Ezra  Johnson,  and 
Phillip  Myers. 

An  interesting  club  of  the  early  twenties  was  the  Hiking 
Club.  The  1923  "Drummer"  says,  "We  have  hiked  to  places 
like  Drummer  Grove,  each  time  increasing  the  distance,  and 
thereby  testing  our  powers  of  endurance." 

In  1923  the  first  orchestra  was  organized.  It  consisted, 
instrumentally,  of  violins,  cornets,  trombones,  clarinets,  and 
a  piano.  The"  first  pianists  include  Gertrude  and  Verna 
Harder,  and  Lauretta  Warfield  (Kerchenfaut)  all  of  whom 
became  piano  teachers  in  the  area. 

In  1923  a  chapter  of  the  National  Honor  Society  was  for- 
med. This  chapter  was  No.  187.  This  was  an  early  chapter,  as 
there  are  now  thousands  of  chapters.  The  name  was  changed 
in  1956,  from  The  Drummer  Chapter  to  the  Wm.  M.  Loy 
Chapter.  Among  the  eight  charter  members  still  residing  in 
the  area  are  Evelyn  Dueringer,  and  Francis  Bryant. 

It  was  interesting  to  note  that  in  1923,  Onarga  Military 
Academy  wrote  a  letter  to  the  football  team  congratulating 
them  on  their  conduct  on  the  field. 

In  1923,  Drummer  won  the  Ford  County  Basketball  tourn- 
ament. The  eight  schools  involved  in  the  tournament  were: 
Paxton,  Melvin,  Sibley,  Roberts,  Piper  City,  Kempton, 
Cabery  and  Drummer. 


The  trophy  case,  still  in  use  in  the  main  hall  of  the  present 
junior  high  was  dedicated  in  1926  by  that  year's  senior  class. 

The  debating  team  of  1928  made  a  clean  sweep  to  the 
district  finals  winning  every  debate  until  the  finals. 

The  gymnasium  was  added  in  1929.  That  years  class  was 
the  first  to  have  their  promotional  exercises  in  the  new  gym. 
Plays  could  also  be  held  in  it. 

The  dance  of  the  twenties  was  the  Charleston.  There  were 
expressions  such  as  "Oh  you  kid"  and  "Twenty  three 
skidoo." 

In  1931  the  Wauseca  Trophy  was  presented  to  the 
basektball  team.  They  had  a  season  of  no  losses. 

The  Future  Farmers  of  America  Chapter  was  organized  in 
1931  to  create  a  greater  interest  in  agriculture.  The  Home 
Economics  Club  began  in  1933.  This  was  reorganized  to  form 
the  Future  Homemakers  of  America  chapter  around  1947. 

When,  in  1932,  Miss  Green  (Mrs.  DeWall)  was  hired  as 
commercial  teacher  many  of  the  board  members  thought  she 
was  too  good  looking  to  hire. 

In  1930  the  orchestra  was  disbanded  and  a  band  was  for- 
med. The  1937  yearbook  states  'our  band  is  one  of  the  highest 
rated  in  the  state,  winning  the  district  contest  for  six  con- 
secutive years  and  the  national  contest  for  three  consecutive 
years.' 

The  band  attended  the  national  contest  in  1933  in  Evanston, 
receiving  a  second.  The  contest  also  enjoyed  a  day  at  the 
Chicago  World's  Fair.  In  1934,  due  to  a  shortage  of  funds,  the 
band  was  unable  to  travel  to  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  for  the 
national  contest,  but  in  1936  they  traveled  to  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
bringing  home  a  "first".  In  1940  the  band  was  selected  to 
attend  Battle  Creek,  Michigan,  where  they  earned  a  'first' 
rating.  The  band  was  under  the  direction,  during  these  years 
of  Mr.  Byron  Wyman,  now  residing  in  Champaign. 

In  the  fall  of  1935  the  first  football  game  of  the  season  was 
postponed  because  of  a  scarlet  fever  outbreak.  The  football 
team  of  1938  was  undefeated.  The  team  of  '39  had  an  un- 
defeated record  until  the  last  game  of  the  season  when 
Paxton  beat  Drummer  3  -  0. 

Until  1936  there  was  no  full  time  secretary.  For  a  few  years 
before  this  Pauline  Goodrich  (Hudson)  and  Doris  Summers 
(Tjardes)  served  as  part  time  secretaries.  Verna  Spry 
(Buck )  was  hired  in  1936  as  the  first  full  time  secretary. 

The  thirties  found  teenagers  dancing  to  the  'Big  Apple', 
and  the  Lambeth  Walk,  while  the  forties  brought  the  'Jit- 
terbug' 

It  was  in  1939  that  the  shops  building  was  completed.  With 
its  completion  came  a  new  course:  Building  Trades.  The 
class  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Fred  Anderson,  and  Mr. 
Harold  Fildes,  built  eight  houses  between  the  years  1939  and 

1956.  It  was  that  year  that  the  course  was  discontinued.  Three 
vears  later  the  D.  0.  program  was  introduced. 

In  1940  Miss  Thomassen  began  the  first  Discussion  Groups. 
These  were  held  for  freshman,  on  Wednesday  8th  hour. 

The  first  annual  "Messiah"  was  presented  by  people  in  the 
community  along  with  the  high  school  chorus  on  Dec.  17, 

1944 

It  was  in  1944  when  Baccalaureate  services  were  first  held 
at  the  high  school  instead  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

In  1945  the  basketball  team  won  the  county  tournmanet. 

In  1945  students  had  a  magazine  campaign,  raising  enough 
money  to  purchase  a  nicklelodeon  and  records,  to  be  used  for 
dances. 

The  fall  of  1954  found  students  entering  a  new  high  school. 
The  dedication  ceremony  was  held  in  the  fall  of  the  year, 
with  Gov.  Stratton  as  guest  speaker. 

It  was  in  1956  that  Mr.  Page  became  the  district  superin- 


82 


tendent.  ,In  1960  Mr.  Trotter  replaced  Mr.  A.  J.  McKinney  as 
principal. 

Quill  and  Scroll,  the  honorary  organization  for  the  jour- 
nalists, was  reinstated  after  an  absence  of  thirty  five  years. 

In  1957  the  Future  Nurses  of  America  were  organized  to  aid 
high  school  students  prepare  for  and  select  a  career  in 
ntirsing. 

The  Future  Teachers  of  America  were  also  organized  in 
1957  Mr.  Page  was  the  founder  of  the  club,  which  was  named 
in  honor  of  Miss  Thomassen. 

In  1963  the  Jr.  Varsity  Football  team  showed  great 
promise.  The  varsity  team  won  two  out  of  nine  games  while 
the  JV's  lost  only  two  out  of  seven  games. 

Wrestling,  which  was  first  introduced  for  a  few  years,  in 


the  early  thirties,  was  organized  agam  in  1966. 

In  1966  Mr.  Clarence  Poplett  retired  after  thirty  years  as 
janitor.  A  car  was  presented  to  him  for  his  years  of  service. 

In  1968  the  Basketball  team  advanced  to  the  sectional 
tournament.  This  was  the  farthest  our  school's  team  had  ever 
gone. 

In  1969  the  Band  and  Chorus  won  the  Sweepstakes  Award  at 
the  State  Contest. 

The  Boy's  Glee  Club  was  organized  in  1970,  after  an  a^ 
sence  of  six  years. 

The  Spring  of  1971  brought  about  the  resignation  of  Miss 
Thomassen  after  forty  years  of  service,  in  which  she 
mi.ssed  only  one  day.  When  asked  whpt  type  of  a  gift  she 
would  like  most  she  very  unselfishly  requested  that  the 
money  be  placed  in  the  Student  Loan  Fund,  of  the  F.T.A. 


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High  Schoo 


83 


Decorations  for  the  Corn  Carnival  for  the  J.  L.  Saxton  and  J.  H.  White  stores  were  designed  by  L.  C. 
Wright.  Picture  was  dated  Oct.  2,  1903.  The  solid  body  of  this  decoration  was  made  of  one  -  half  inch 
boards  painted  in  light  blue  with  cold  water  paint  with  corn.  oats,  corn  shucks,  stalks  and  materials 
suitable  for  a  cereal  decoration.  The  upper  grill  work  was  made  of  kaffir  corn  stalks.  The  upper 
border  was  made  of  small  bunches  of  oats. 


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AND 
REMINISCENCES 


84 


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CORN  CARNIVALS 


The  Corn  Carnivals  in  Gibson  City  were  a  unique  festival, 
verv  unlike  (he  carnival  companiesof  a  later  date. 

Begun  in  the  early  1900's.  they  were  an  annual  October 
event  until  the  Chautauqua  craze  hit  the  scene.  Each  year  in 
the  early  spring,  a  committee  was  named  and  headed  by  Hi 
Arrowsmith  and  John  Swanson.  who  journeyed  to  Chicago 
and  engaged  free  acts  for  the  following  October. 

Platforms  were  erected  in  each  block  of  Sangamon  Avenue 
for  free  entertainment  such  as  aerials,  bicycles,  high  dives, 
etc.  A  big  band  from  Bloomington  or  Decatur  was  hired  and 
played  for  the  whole  week.  No  carnival  companies,  as  such, 
were  permitted.  Concessions,  however,  were  allowed  such  as 


^\ 


merry  -  go  -  rounds,  ferris  wheels,  and  some  side  shows. 

School  was  let  out  and  the  entire  population  of  Gibson  City 
celebrated  Corn  Carnival  Week. 

One  of  the  highlights  was  a  huge  parade  which  featured 
bands  and  decorated  floats,  pony  carts,  buggies,  etc.  -  many 
used  real  flowers  for  the  elaborate  decorations. 

The  entire  business  district  was  decorated  using  corn 
stalks  and  many  other  grains  for  designs. 

The  climax  of  the  week  was  a  ball  at  Burwell  Opera  House, 
(now  the  Masonic  Lodge)  on  Saturday  night  attended  by 
young  and  old  alike  -  all  dancing  to  a  good  orchestra. 


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86 


THE  GIBSON  HOME  CHAUTAUQUA  ASSOCIATION 

The  Gibson  Home  Chautauqua  Association  was  formed  on 
March  13,  1916.  Interested  citizens  held  a  meeting  in  the  old 
Masonic  Hall,  which  was  above  what  is  now  Loys  Stores. 

C.  J.  Robertson  was  elected  the  first  president.  Other  of- 
ficers were  John  Mollis,  vice  -  president;  Miss  Chloe  Rady. 
secretary:  and  John  McClure.  treasurer. 

The  Chautauqua  entertainment  was  scheduled  for  July  20  - 
25.  Talent  cost  $925  and  admission  was  25  cents. 

The  most  famous  person  to  present  a  program  was  the 
great  orator  William  Jennings  Bryan,  who  spoke  on  Monday, 
July  24 

The  association  ended  the  season  with  $13.78,  and  on 
August  4.  a  permanent  Chautauqua  organization,  known  as 
the  Gibson  City  Chautauqua  Association,  was  incorporated 
under  state  laws 

Besides  providing  top  entertainment  for  the  residents,  the 
association  built  a  $10,000  pavilion  in  Mellinger  Park, 
commonlv  known  as  the  North  Park. 


BILLY  SUNDAY 

The  Rev.  William  A.  Sunday,  the  most  celebrated 
evangelist  and  revivalist  of  the  late  1800's.  appeared  in 
Gibson  during  June  and  July  of  1907. 

He  preached  here  for  seven  weeks,  day  and  night,  to 
crowds  that  packed  a  huge  tabernacle  built  specifically  for 
the  purpose.  The  tabernacle  was  located  at  the  corner  of  6th 
St.  and  Sangamon  Ave. 

A  group  of  local  business  leaders,  also  leaders  in  their  own 
churches,  persuaded  Sunday  to  come  to  Gibson  City. 
Members  of  that  group  included  Dr.  W.  A.  Hoover,  Dr.  C.  W. 
Knapp,  and  Percy  Lowry. 


BILLY  GRAHAM  CRUSADE 
HERE  IN  JULY,  1966 

The  Gibson  City  High  School  athletic  field  was  the  scene  for 
the  Billy  Graham  Evangelistic  Crusade  held  July  17-31,  1%6. 

Many  months  of  detailed  planning  (started  in  Dec,  1965) 
went  into  this  great  Crusade  which  drew  people  from  all  over 


East  Central  Illinois.  It  was  officially  advertised  as  the  East 
Central  Illinois  Billy  Graham  Crusade. 

During  the  two  weeks,  thousands  went  forward  to  dedicate 
or  re  -  dedicate  their  lives  to  Jesus  Christ. 

The  crusade  received  its  Certificate  of  Incorporation 
papers  on  Dec.  7.  1965.  Named  as  board  of  directors  in  the 
articles  of  incorporation  were  Ellis  Unzicker.  general 
chairman  of  the  successful  religious  event;  the  Rev.  Jack 
Kaley  then  minister  of  the  former  Evangelical  United 
Brethren  Church;  the  Rev.  Lester  Ringham  of  the -First 
Christian  Church;  Mrs.  Thomas  (Valeria)  Hunt,  secretary; 
John  E.  Wilson.  Piper  City,  treasurer;  Frank  Hubert, 
Say  brook;  and  Mrs.  Gladys  Gottschalk.  Anchor. 

Others  sen'ing  on  the  executive  committee  as  chairmen 
from  this  area  were  the  Rev.  James  Pollard  of  the  Gibson 
City  Bible  Church;  Clifford  Shaner;  Warren  Page,  the  Rev. 
Roger  Boyd,  Mrs.  Ron  Hayse  of  Elliott,  L.  F.  Swanson, 
Dwight  (Dike)  Eddleman  and  the  Rev.  Leo  Ewing  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  Mrs.  Jon  (Jean)  Hunt  served  as  office 
secretary. 

Dr.  John  Wesley  White  was  the  evangelist  during  the  two 
weeks.  His  dynamic  sermons  led  many  to  respond  to  his  call. 

The  crusade  here  was  organized  to  include  33  area  towns 
and  villages,  covering  a  population  of  approximately  47.000 
people. 

A  choir  of  over  200  voices  sang  nightly.  The  final  night  of 
the  crusade  featured  nationally  known  gospel  singer  George 
Beverly  Shea.  One  of  the  largest  crowds  in  the  city's  history 
gathered  at  the  football  field  that  night.  Cars  were  parked 
everywhere,  all  the  chairs  were  filled  and  some  brought  their 
own  folding  chairs  and  blankets. 

The  crusade  drew  wide  publicity  and  is  still  considered  by 
(he  Billy  Graham  Evangelistic  Association  as  one  of  its 
greatest  successes.  Crusades  sponsored  by  the  BGEA  rarely 
plan  such  events  in  small  towns. 

COLISEUM 

The  Coliseum  in  Gibson  City  was  built  about  1907  by  Martin 
Roslyn  and  Dr.  Frank  Hunt,  Sr.  In  essence  it  was  the  home  of 
the  "Yours  Truly  Basketball  Team",  a  professional  home 
town  team  that  toured,  met  and  conquered  teams  all  over  the 
state,  even  playing  the  Harlem  Globetrotters  of  that  day. 

The  Coliseum  was  the  palace  for  the  roller  skaters  in  the 
day  when  roller  skating  rivalled  local  dancing  events. 

So  enthusiastic  were  the  patrons  of  the  "Yours  Truly 
Team"  that  one  father  and  mother  brought  their  youngest, 
placed  him  under  the  seats  which  surrounded  the  playing 
field  to  sleep.  After  the  excitement  of  the  game,  the  parents 
returned  home  only  to  discover  that  they  had  left  the  infant 
under  the  seat,  locked  in  the  Coliseum. 


INIEBNIIIIONUL  BI61E  SIUOENTS  USSOCKTION 

FREE    LECTURES 
OPERA    HOUSE 

GIBSO.S  cnv.  ILL 
Sunday  Afternoons,    3    U'clnck 

Nov.  2i.  "Christ's  Second  Coming. 
Why?  How?   When?" 

.Ni>v.  M)  "\iclory  O'er  The  Grave" 

,^, ,        »«.   7  "The  Two  Salvations" 

New  York  PASTi IK  S.  AluKTit.V  Nr«\«il« 

VnniMKi.K  AMI  FiiiKNri>  Ahk  I'okih.ii.i.v   Isvitki. 

ALL    SEATS     FREE  „q     COLLECTION 


87 


Taking  part  in  the  Corn  Carnival  parade  held  in  October  1909  were  (from  left)  Stanley  Means, 
Frank  Hunt  Jr.,  William  C.  Bryant,  Gretchen  Wilkinson  Potts,  fred  McClure  and  Alyce  Hunt 
Preston. 


88 


FAIR  ASSOCIATION  ORGANIZED  IN  IS?:' 

In  less  than  two  years  after  the  first  business  was 
established  in  the  village,  the  citizens  could  boast  of  a  fair. 
The  F'air  Association  was  organized  in  1872  and  the  first  fair 
was  held  in  September  of  that  year. 

.  J.  B.  Lott  set  aside  :iO  acres  in  the  northwest  part  of  the 
town  site,  which  was  incorporated  in  the  spring  of  that  year 
for  the  fair  grounds.  The  association  elected  Dr.  J.  E.  Davis 
as  president;  W.  H.  Simms.  secretary;  and  John  H.  Collier, 
treasurer 

A  roofless  amphitheater  was  constructed  along  the  west 
side  of  the  grounds  and  a  band  stand  was  built  near  the  south 
end  (if  the  race  track,  A  floral  hall  located  at  the  north  side  of 
the  field  held  exhibits. 

There  was  no  well  at  the  fair  grounds,  so  water  had  to  be 
hauled  in  in  barrels.  Plenty  of  tin  cups  were  on  hand  for  use 
l)y  I  he  thirsty  public. 

On  the  first  day  of  the  fair  held  in  1875,  after  boring  to  a 
depth  of  28  feet,  a  small  stream  of  water  burst  forth  at  the 
surface  which  was  of  excellent  quality,  pure  and  cold.  It  was 
the  first  artesian  well  in  this  locality  and  continued  to  flow  for 
many  years.  From  that  time  on,  a  drink  at  this  well  was  a 
great  attraction  at  the  fair. 

The  fairs  continued  with  much  success  for  eight  years  with 
people  coming  from  miles  around  to  attend.  The  fair  grounds 
were  the  scene  of  many  races,  Fourth  of  July  celebrations 
and  other  events. 

The  last  fair  was  held  in  September  1879;  the  month  and 
year  that  oneof  its  chief  sponsors,  J.  B.  Lott,  died. 

Another  race  track  was  laid  out  on  the  farm  of  C.  C.  Pearce 
just  east  of  the  village  in  the  early  1880s.  Mr.  Pearce  had 
some  race  horses,  as  did  Henry  Friday  of  Anchor  and  Dr.  J. 
W.  Dickey  and  several  others  in  the  area.  Many  lively  races 
took  place  at  that  track. 

A  popular  summer  recreation  was  picnicking.  There  were 
no  shade  trees  in  the  village.  One  traveler  remarked.  "The 
only  shade  here  is  a  sunflower!"  Not  true  -  as  many  young 
trees  were  planted  those  first  years,  but  needed  time  to  grow. 
There  were  very  few  buggies  or  carriages  in  the  village 
before  1880.  so  transportation  to  the  groves  was  by  horse  and 
wagon.  The  closest  to  the  village  was  Drummer  Grove,  a 
favorite  place  for  young  and  old,  and  was  within  walking 
distance,  if  necessary.  There  were  other  groves  farther  away 
where  some  groups  did  go.  Hayracks  loaded  with  young 
people  who  did  not  mind  the  distance.  Bicycles  came  into  the 
town  before  too  many  years  -  streets  and  roads  were  none 
too  good  for  such  riding  -  but ,  who  cared  about  that. 

Bicycle  races  also  were  held  at  the  race  tracks. 


would  stand  up  on  the  side  and  pump  the  suction  pump  after 
the  hose  or  "suction"  was  dropped  into  a  cistern  well  or  lank 
of  water  and  "work"  the  pump  to  force  a  stream  of  water  up 
through  the  hose.  "Sometimes  the  men  had  to  run  and  pull 
the  hose  cart  by  hand." 

In  189,5  the  city  laid  water  mains  and  erected  a  pumping 
station  on  north  Melvin  street. 

A  660  ■  fool  high  tower  was  built  of  brick  with  a  steel  lank  on 
top  which  held  50,000  gallons  of  water.  A  ground  reservoir 
held  an  equal  amount  and  both  were  kept  filled  with  water 
pumped  from  bored  wells  pumped  by  a  turbine  engine. 

A  volunteer  fire  department  was  organized  with  A.  B. 
Siverling  as  the  fire  chief.  Hose  carts  were  added  and  a  new 
fire  engine  purchased  by  the  town  with  a  team  of  beautiful 
black  horses  to  pull  the  equipment.  The  hose  carts  were 
pulled  by  dray  wagons  or  any  conveyance  that  was  handy. 

(Note:  No  dates  can  be  authenticated  on  the  above  in- 
formation.) 

There  was  no  fire  alarm  until  1892  when  S.  J.  LeFevre  built 
the  first  electric  light  plant,  and  placed  a  siren  on  the  steam 
boiler.  When  a  fire  occured,  the  plant  would  be  notified  and 
the  citizens  would  hear  long,  hair  ■  raising  blasts  of  the 
whistle,  one  for  the  first  ward,  two  for  ward  two,  three  for  the 
third  ward,  letting  the  population  and  the  firemen  know 
where  the  fire  was  located. 

When  the  city  hall  was  built  in  1906,  the  historic  bell  from 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  was  purchased  by  the 
city  and  hung  in  the  tower  of  the  city  hall.  This  bell  was  used 
as  the  fire  alarm  until  fire  destroyed  the  city  hall  in  19.37. 

When  the  new  city  hall  was  built,  an  electric  siren  was 
placed  on  the  tower  and  was  operated  by  a  switch  from  the 
telephone  office. 

In  1895  the  city  provided  the  firemen  with  uniforms.  On 
November  29  of  that  year  they  staged  the  first  Fireman's 
Ball  in  Burwell's  Opera  House.  There  was  a  very  large  at- 
tendance. These  affairs  have  continued  in  various  places 
since  that  time. 

After  the  city  purchased  a  hook  and  ladder  wagon  the  local 
firemen  won  the  State  Championship  for  three  con.secutive 
years,  at  Clinton.  Blue  Island  and  LaSalle.  In  1900  they 
received  a  Silver  Trumpet.  Some  of  the  members  at  that  time 
were:  Al  Hawkins  (?),  Fred  Jones.  Charles  Kelso,  A.  Haupt, 
Bert  Ball,  Forrest  Eggleston,  Ira  Gilmore,  Ed  Crowdy.  Jay 
Gregory.  "Pet"  Thomas.  Kirk  Gregory,  Loyal  Wright.  Albert 
Gilchrist  and  Frank  Patton, 


BUCKET  BRIGADE  W  AS  EARLY  FIRE  DEFENSE 

In  the  early  days  the  only  means  of  fighting  a  fire  in  the 
village  was  by  the  "bucket  brigade."  When  a  fire  was 
discovered,  the  call  of  "fire.  fire,  fire."  aroused  every  one. 

Young  Dr.  Ragsdale  usually  raced  to  the  livery  stable  for 
his  horse  and  rode  through  the  streets  giving  the  alarm, 
which  brought  out  able  ■  bodied  citizens  to  help  fight  the  fire. 

Buckets  would  be  filled  at  the  "pump  wells"  nearest  to  the 
blaze  and  passed  hand  to  hand  to  be  thrown  on  to  the  burning 
building.  H.  H.  Ward  had  been  a  Chicago  fire  -  man  before 
coming  to  Gibson  and  always  took  charge  of  directing  the 
bucket  lines  and  fighting  the  fires  until  the  first  Volunteer 
Fire  Department  was  organized.  They  had  no  equipment  of 
any  kind  for  many  years. 

The  first  fire  engine  had  a  rail  along  the  side  and  two  men 


FIRES  DESTROY  MANY  BUSINESSES  IN  1800's 

With  no  fire  protection  equipment  in  the  early  years  of 
Gibson  City,  many  fires  raged  out  -  of  -  hand  and  were  fought 
only  by  willing  hands  manning  bucket  brigades  as  they 
struggled  to  save  property. 

Headlines  in  the  Gibson  City  Courier  said  damages  in  the 
earliest  major  fire  in  downtown  Gibson  amounted  to  $32,000. 
An  account  of  the  fire  which  occurred  on  the  west  side  of 
Sangamon  Avenue  (100  block)  on  Tuesday.  January  30.  1883 
follows: 

The  most  destructive  fire  in  the  history  of  Gibson  was  on 
Tuesday  morning,  which  at  one  time  threatened  to  sweep 
away  the  whole  town.  A  little  after  2  a.m.  the  large  frame 
building  known  as  the  Burwell  building  was  discovered  to  be 


89 


In  Mrs.  Mary  Grim  Pate's  history  of  Gibson  City  is  the 
following  notation  from  her  mother's  diary:  "Tuesday  night, 
Feb.  4th,  1913.  A  very  cold  day.  A  big  fire  in  town  about  3 
o'clock  this  a.m.  burned  the  Wade  Store,  Cady  Drug  Store, 
Poff  Bros.  Store  and  the  American  Express  office." 


on  fire  by  the  night  watchman,  Peter  Bowen.  Knowing  that 
the  second  floor  was  occupied  by  several  roomers,  he 
hastened  to  awaken  them  but  discovered  that  they  had  been 
alerted  and  were  fleeing  for  their  lives;  the  fire  having  in 
such  a  short  time,  filled  the  upstairs  with  dense  and  suf- 
focating smoke.  Nothing  was  saved  by  these  people. 

The  immense  stock  of  clothing  of  the  C.  F.  Baker  store  and 
the  grocery  stock  of  C.  F.  Buckman  and  Co.  below  were  a 
total  loss,  as  well  as  the  J.  H.  Collier  store  next  door  to  the 
north.  A  vacant  lot,  then  the  J.  E.  Crammond  brick  building 
to  the  north  stopped  thf  flames  after  hundreds  of  willing 
hands  formed  bucket  brigades  and  poured  water  on  the  roofs 
and  sides  of  surrounding  buildings  which  were  all  of  wood 
construction  with  coal  houses  and  cribs  in  the  rear. 

Had  the  other  buildings  caught  fire  nothing  would  have 
prevented  the  fire  from  burning  clear  to  the  Illinois  Central 
depot.  The  danger  was  so  threatening  that  these  buildings 
were  emptied  of  their  contents  into  the  street 

The  buildings  to  the  south  of  the  Burwell  building  caught 
fire  and  burned.  These  were  two  -  story  and  the  occupants 
had  time  to  get  some  of  their  effects  out.  Mr.  Robertson's 
furniture  store  and  Goff  Photograph  were  in  these  buildings. 

A  barrel  of  gun  powder  in  the  J.  H.  Collier  hardware  store 
exploded  throwing  charred  boards  as  far  as  the  Wabash 
depot. 

The  citizens  worked  with  heroic  efforts  to  check  the  flames 
and  save  property.  Water  was  carried  in  buckets  as  fast  as  it 
could  be  pumped  from  the  well  in  the  neighborhood. 

Mr.  Crammond  gathered  up  what  he  could  of  his  stock  that 
was  carried  out  of  his  building  and  opened  up  the  next  day 
under  the  Union  Hall. 

There  was  much  looting,  by  persons  not  seeming  to  care 


about  the  loss  and  suffering  of  their  neighbors.  One  man  was 
seen  to  pick  out  a  coat  for  himself  and  a  shawl  for  his  wife! 
Another  person  was  seen  to  fill  his  pockets  with  small  but 
valuable  articles  from  the  New  York  Store,  then  strike  out  for 
home. 

Matt  Waples,  a  furniture  dealer,  and  undertaker  who  made 
many  coffins,  found  one  of  his,  carefully  hidden  away  under 
J.  W.  Saxton's  sidewalks,  with  three  pair  of  pants  from  the 
New  York  store  stuffed  in  it.  Some  fellow  was  evidently 
preparing  for  his  journey  to  the  next  world.  He  was  con- 
siderate, however,  as  he  had  picked  out  a  cheap  coffin. 

Mr  Burwell  and  Mr.  Collier  immediately  started  to  rebuild 
their  buildings  and  the  walls  were  about  ready  for  the  roofs 
when  a  violent  wind  storm  hit  the  village  at  10  o'clock,  July 
13,  1883.  The  wind  raged  for  nearly  an  hour.  The  upper  joists 
and  siding  were  blown  down,  breaking  some  of  the  lower 
ones. 

The  damage  from  this  storm  was  repaired  and  these 
buildings  were  ready  for  occupancy  by  mid  -  December. 
The  Second  Major  Fire 
August  22,  I8X,5 

The  second  major  fire  in  the  history  of  Gibson  was  on 
Saturday  night,  August  22,  1885,  just  a  little  over  two  years 
after  the  destructive  fire  of  1883  Both  of  them  between  8th 
and  9th  streets  but  on  opposite  sides  of  the  street.  This  one 
was  on  the  east  side  of  Sangamon  Avenue. 

This  second  fire  was  at  the  North  end  of  the  block  and 
consumed  five  buildings  with  a  loss  of  $8000.  The  fire  had 
started  in  the  floor  of  J.  D.  Hannugans  Cigar  Store  and 
spread  rapidly. 

.J.  H.  White's  Grocery  Store  to  the  south  was  consumed. 
The  small  wooden  building  used  as  a  barber  shop  by  Mark 
Anthony  was  'orn  down  to  stop  the  fire,  as  was  the  Harper 


90 


This  page  sponsored  by 
Gibson    Pumbing      &    Heating    and    James    A. 
Taylor,  Contractor  and  Lamb  Funeral  Home 


building    The  brick   building  housing   the   MalHnson  and 
Wilson  Bank  was  also  destroyed. 

The  town  pump  across  the  street  from  the  bank  and  the 

wells  at  the  yards  of  the  homes  on  Church  street  furnished 

water  for  the  bucket  brigades  that  helped  to  finally  halt  the 

flames  before  the  whole  block  burned 

The  Third  >Iajor  Fire 

April  1.1.  ismi 

The  third  major  fire  in  the  early  days  of  Gibson  was  again 
on  the  east  side  of  Sangamon  Ave  in  the  block  between 
eighth  and  ninth  streets. 

It  started  at  night  in  the  restaurant  of  H.  P.  and  William 
Arrowsniith,  who  slept  in  the  back  room  of  the  building. 
Hearing  the  roar  of  the  flames,  they  escaped  and  gave  the 
alarm. 

Dr.  W.  W.  Ragsdale,  a  young  physician  in  the  village,  saw 
the  fire,  rushed  to  the  liven,'  stable  for  his  horse,  and  rode 
over  the  town,  crying  "Fire.  Fire.  Fire"  and  aroused  the 
town. 

This  was  the  customary  means  of  arousing  the  people 
especially  at  night. 

Horace  N.  Ward  who  had  been  a  Chicago  fireman  for  some 
time  and  had  served  during  the  Chicago  fire,  always  ran  to 
our  fires  and  took  charge  directing  the  bucket  lines  and 
fighting  the  fires. 

Six  buildings  were  burned  and  the  windows  in  the  Lamb's 
Furniture  Store  across  the  street  fell  out. 

None  of  the  original  buildings  on  the  east  side  of  Sangamon 
Avenue  were  left  standing  after  this  fire. 


()iTST\M)i\(;  (  rn/K\  awahi) 

The  Chamber  of  Ciinunerce  ui  l!it)2  nutiated  an  award  lobe 
presented  each  year  lo  a  citizen  or  organi/aiion  in 
recognition  for  Ihcir  work  towards  Ihe  betterment  of  ilic  city 
and  for  community  ser\ice. 

The  winner  of  the  award  is  chosen  from  nominations 
submitted  by  citizens  lo  an  anonymous  committee,  who 
selects  Ihe  "Outstanding  Citizen  "  The  recipient  is  kept  a 
secret  and  announced  at  the  annual  dinner  meeting  nf  Ihe 
chamber  in  February  each  year. 

The  following  people  have  been  named  Cibson  dly's 
"Outstanding  Citizen": 

Verle  Kramer.  I!t62.  who  died  in  November.  1968:  Mrs  L(K'1 
(Margaret I  Helmick.  I%:i.  who  died  in  June,  1970:  Frank 
Hunt  Jr  .  l9(;-»:  Orren  Pierce.  196.S;  the  Rev.  Jack  Kalev. 
1961;:  Mrs.  W  T.  ( Helen i  Francis.  1967:  Dr.  E.  C.  Bucher, 
1968:  Gibson  City  Volunteer  Fire  Department.  1969:  and 
Ernest  Brown,  1970. 


g^M  l^^^'^^j-^  mmMmv^^^-^ 


Children's  parade  of  the  19(ih  Corn  Carnival  included  the  following  youngsters:  i  from  left  i  Fred 
Met  lure,  unidentified,  .\lyce  Hunt  Preston.  Harold  Kemple.  Marjorie  Kemple.  Mary  Frances  Culter 
Stubbert.  .\nita  Palmer  Houran.  Percy  Wood,  Clarence  Barrow.  Holden  White  and  Pete  Palmer. 


91 


OLDEST  DWELLING 

The  first  dwelling  in  the  village  of  Gibson  was  built  by 
William  Moyer,  a  grain  merchant.  It  was  constructed  near 
Ihe  railroad  track  west  of  the  Illinois  Central  depot,  ac- 
cording to  Mary  Grim  Pate's  history  of  Gibson  City. 

The  house  was  considered  to  be  "very  fine"  for  those  days 
but  Mr.  Moyer  decided  to  build  a  large  one  farther  from  the 
railroad.  His  first  house  was  moved  to  the  east  side  of  the 
street  in  Block  12,  Original  Town,  now  known  as  Church 
street,  just  south  of  the  Dungan  and  LeFevre  houses.  It  was 
later  torn  down. 

"In  June  1873  Mr.  Moyer  erected  a  one  -  and  -  a  -  half  story 
cottage  on  the  corner  lot  of  what  is  now  10th  and  North  Wood 
Streets.  Now,  in  1940,  when  this  history  is  being  written,  it 
seems  to  be  in  as  good  condition  as  when  it  was  built,  but  has 
been  moved  to  the  south  side  of  the  lot  and  faces  to  the  west. 

The  present  address  is  218  N.  Wood  St. 

The  house  has  been  owned  by  a  number  of  people.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Caleb  McKeever  lived  there  during  the  late  1890's  and 
early  1900's  until  they  passed  away.  The  house  was  also 
owned  by  the  Joseph  Ehresmans,  who  at  one  time  rented  it  to 
Ihe  Harvey  Rasmussen  family.  After  Dr.  Potts  purchased  the 
property,  the  Rasmussens  lived  there  for  a  while,  until  it  was 
made  into  his  office. 

H.  L.  Gregory,  a  pioneer  merchant,  built  a  pretentious 
house  on  the  corner  lot  and  many  social  functions  were  held 
there  in  the  early  days.  The  Knapp  family  owned  it  and  also 
Ihe  Barber  family.  A  fire  completely  destroyed  the  structure 
and  in  the  early  1930's  the  late  Dr.  A.  L.  Potts  purchased  the 
property  and  erected  a  modern  brick  home.  He  used  the 
former  Moyer  house  as  his  office  for  a  time  and  after  he 
moved  his  office  to  214  N.  Sangamon  Ave.  in  downtown 
Gibson  Citv,   Ihe  house  was  rented.   Former  Postmaster 


Hazeii  L  i  Zigg\  '  t-.insi  rented  itie  house  for  some  years.  In 
1951  Dr.  Potts'  daughter  and  her  husband,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alan 
Broaddus,  moved  into  the  home.  The  house  was  sold  in  1970  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ralph  Jones  when  the  Broaddus  family  pur- 
chased the  former  Potts'  residence  on  the  corner. 

The  Moyer  house  originally  had  10  -  foot  ceilings  and  the 
structure  has  been  enlarged  through  the  years. 

Over  the  years,  additions  have  been  made  to  the  original 
structure  -  which  featured  10  -  foot  high  ceilings.  The  house 
now  has  a  living  room,  dining  room,  kitchen,  three  small 
bedrooms  and    a  bath  downstairs. 


92 


Gibson  City  helped  the  state  of  Illinois  celebrate  its  Sesquicentennial  year  in  1968  with  a  huge  parade. 
One  of  the  features  was  the  Mohammed  Shrine  band  from  Peoria,  which  was  scheduled  to  return  to 
Gibson  City  for  the  Centennial  celebration  parade  in  1971.  .Another  marching  band  in  the  "Sesqui" 
parade  was  the  Great  Lakes  Naval  Training  Station  band. 


Pens  of  livestock  were  plentiful  in  the  early  days  of  the  annual  Community  Sale.  Thousands  of  people 
from  area  towns  and  neighboring  stales  come  to  buy  bargains  in  used  farm  equipment.  The  sale  has 
continued  for  Itti  years.  It  is  alw ays  held  the  first  Thursday  in  .March. 


Old-fashioned  Halloween  parade  was  an  annual  event  each  year.  Young  and  old  turned 
out  for  the  parade. 


93 


94 


Gibson  City  has  been  the  scene  of  many  railroad  accidents 
down  through  the  years,  but  probably  the  most  spectacular 
occurred  at  10  minutes  to  midnight  on  Thursday  night,  Oct. 
M.  1954.  The  Nickel  Plate  Railroads  "Whiskey  Pete", 
eastbound  from  Peoria,  roared  through  an  open  switch  and 
piled  up  in  a  huge  tangle  of  cars  which  spilled  hogs  and  wheat 
down  the  block  from  Sangamon  .Avenue  to  Church  Street. 
Miraculously,  there  were  no  injuries,  even  though  the  two 


locomotives  were  in  the  biggest  stack  of  cars,  and  very  little 
property  damage  to  Gibson  City.  However,  the  railroad 
termed  it  a  "million  dollar  accident",  and  it  required  nearly 
a  week  to  clear  the  wreckage  and  open  the  tracks  to  rail 
traffic.  Oldtimers  recalled  that  the  train  earned  the 
nickname  "Whiskey  Pete"  in  the  days  when  it  hauled  large 
quantities  of  liquor  eastward  from  Peoria,  passing  through 
(libson  City  at  around  midnight. 


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PLATS  AND 
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95 


RAILS 


Traveling  on  horseback  or  walking,  the  first  settlers  to 
come  lo  the  Gibson  City  area  found  swamps  and  a  vast  sea  of 
prairie  grass,  higher  than  a  horse's  back.  Trails  made  by 
Indian  hunting  parties,  along  with  wagon  trails  were  the  only 
roads.  Horses  and  wagons  hauled  the  farm  produce  to  distant 
markets  and  brought  back  supplies  and  materials  to  build  the 
early  houses. 

The  coming  of  the  railroads  opened  up  the  country  for 
settlement,  agricultural  and  industrial  development.  By  1874 
Gibson  City  was  the  intersection  of  three  railroads. 

Jonathon  B.  Lott,  a  man  who  made  things  happen,  secured 
a  station  on  his  property  of  the  Gilman,  Clinton,  and 
Springfield  Rail  Road,  built  in  1871.  In  1876  the  Illinois 
Central  system  acquired  this  section  of  railroad  and  it 
became  a  portion  of  their  main  line  from  Chicago  to  St.  Louis. 
J.  E.  Miller  was  the  first  agent  and  the  depot  was  built  up 
high  on  poles  to  keep  out  of  the  water. 

Never  underestimate  the  help  of  friends!  Jonathon  Lott's 
next  move  was  to  get  the  LaFayette,  Bloomington  and 
Mississippi  Railroad  to  come  through  Gibson  City.  Jonathon 
B.  Cheney  and  Haines  Cheney  of  Bloomington  helped  secure 
the  right  of  way.  Joseph  Fifer,  later  governor  of  Illinois, 
helped  his  Civil  War  comrade,  Mr.  Lott,  bring  this  line 
through  Gibson  City  instead  of  three  miles  south  as  originally 
surveyed.  The  first  regular  train  service  began  in  the  spring 
of  1872  on  this  line,  now  known  as  the  Peoria  branch  of  the 
Norfolk  and  Western. 

The  Chicago  and  Paducah  Railroad  could  easily  have 
passed  west  of  Gibson  City,  but  witnesses  say  it  was  surveyed 
on  Saturday  night  and  Sunday,  coming  right  through  Spring 
Street  of  Gibson  City  to  avoid  the  question  of  right  of  way. 
Completed  in  1874  with  F.  E.  Williamson  as  first  agent,  this 
railway  is  now  known  as  the  Decatur  branch  of  the  Norfolk 
and  Western. 

These  same  three  railroads  still  serve  Gibson  City  by 
transporting  much  freight  each  year.  Mayor  Don  Craig, 
agent  of  the  Norfolk  and  Western,  reports  that  business  has 
increased  considerably  since  the  merger  of  the  former 
Wabash  and  Nickel  Plate  lines.  The  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
in  charge  of  agent  Charles  W.  Nelson,  handles  a  great  deal  of 
freight,  linking  Gibson  City  with  Chicago  and  St.  Louis. 

Passenger  service  for  both  local  railways  was  terminated 
May  1  with  the  beginning  of  Amtrak.  The  interlocking  tower, 
maintained  24  hours  per  day,  controls  the  train  traffic 
through  Gibson  City.  Approximately  680  trains  pass  through 
our  city  each  month. 


I  C  HAND  CAR 
W.  M.  Case,  Bart  Wright,  Jim  Blades  and  Roy  Nazaris 


Kngine  No.  k:!.  sporting  two  steam  domes,  is  a  typical 
wood  burner  seen  in  the  early  days  of  railroading.  The 
railroad  depot  was  the  scene  of  much  activity  in  the  early 
years  of  (iibson  City,  as  citizens  relied  on  passenger 
service  to  get  from  one  town  to  another,  as  well  as  to  haul 

This  page  sponsored  by 
Lehigh  Paving  Co.,  Nationwide  Glove  Co 
nc  Drug  Store  and  L.  F.  Swanson  &  Son 


Railway  passenger  service  to  and  from  Gibson  City  came  to  an  end 
after  100  years  with  the  beginning  of  Amtrack  May  1,  1971.  One  of 
the  last  passenger  trains  leaves  Gibson  City  via  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad.  IC  employees  pictured  are  (from  left  Dan  Sapp,  assistant 
trainmaster;  Mrs.  Bud  O'Neal,  clerk;  and  Charles  Nelson,  agent. 


Gill's 


ROADS 

In  the  early  days  of  Gibson  City,  horse  -  drawn  lumber 
wagons,  buggies,  two  -  wheel  carts  and  spring  wagons  hauled 
supplies  and  persons  along  the  often  dusty  or  muddy  streets 
of  the  town  and  surrounding  rural  area.  A  well  -  trained 
riding  or  driving  team  was  a  most  valued  possession.  Dr. 
Davis  had  the  first  buggy  in  1875.  George  Trailor  had  one  of 
the  first  "democrats"  (a  spring  wagon  with  two  seats)  and 
rented  it  to  young  men  such  as  Alf  Barrow  and  Will  Reader 
in  the  Scotland  School  area  for  a  $1.00  a  night;  Mrs.  W.  C. 
Mot  tier,  his  daughter,  remembers  her  mother  felt  this  was 
an  extravagant  purchase,  when  "we  had  a  perfectly  good 
lumber  wagon  to  go  in!" 

Later  came  the  carriage,  the  rubber  tired  buggy,  the 
bobsleds  and  cutters,  and  the  pheaton.  D.  M.  Dixon  and 
George  Haupl  opened  early  harness  shops  by  1874.  Peter 
Poison,  an  early  blacksmith  in  1874.  sold  it  to  William  Mc- 
Conncll  in  1878.  John  S.  and  Wylie  Moore  opened  a  wagon 
shop  in  1877  opposite  McConnell's  blacksmith  shop.  David 
Snyder  and  later  John  Pagle  operated  livery  stables.  (The 
latter  was  located  on  the  present  library  site.) 

When  bicycling  became  popular  in  1897.  the  young  ladies 
organized  a  "cycling  club"  with  Misses  Gertrude  McClellan. 
Edith  Wade  and  Nellie  Johnston  as  officers. 

In  the  early  19O0's  the  people  of  Gibson  City  area  looked  for 


some  way  to  improve  their  muddy  or  dusty  roads  and  streets. 
Jacob  D.  Mellinger  was  instrumental  in  getting  main  street 
graveled  about  1890.  and  as  road  commissioner,  he  promoted 
the  first  pike  or  gravel  road  in  this  area.  Soon  other  stieets 
and  roads  were  graveled.  Sangamon  Avenue  was  paved  in 
1906. 

The  wooden  sidewalks  in  Gibson  City  were  built  upon  poles 
two  or  three  feet  high  from  the  street  level  to  keep  out  of  the 
water  during  the  rainy  seasons.  By  1890  the  first  brick 
sidewalks  were  being  built  and  a  few  years  later  the  first 
concrete  sidewalk  was  laid  on  North  Lott  Boulevard  at  the 
corner  of  lllh  Street. 

As  the  automobile  became  more  common,  Illinois  began  to 
build  roads  of  concrete  or  asphalt.  Gibson  City  is  the  in 
tersection  of  three  major  highways.  Route  9.  47  and  54. 
Illinois  Route 9  (east  ■  west)  was  built  in  1924  and  resurfaced 
in  1968-69.  Illinois  Route 47  (north  -  south)  was  originally  built 
in  1932 and  resurfaced  in  1969.  U.  S.  54  (trans-  slate  road  from 
Chicago  to  El  Paso.  Texas)  was  constructed  in  19:u  :!2  and 
resurfaced  to  the  north  of  Gibson  City  in  1970. 

Drummer  Township  contains  over  79  miles  of  roads;  high- 
way commissioner  Albert  Schmidt  reports  that  all  these  are 
blacktopped.  with  the  exception  of  only  three  miles  of  gravel 
road.  In  1971  Gibson  City  is  proud  of  its  many  streets  of 
concrete,  brick  or  asphalt,  with  most  of  the  alleys  graveled 
or  resurfaced  with  asphalt. 


Drivhif^  her  tiorse,  Nellie,  for  one  of  thp  Corn  Carnival  parades  in 
llie  early  IIKMIs  is  Miss  Ma\me  Harrow,  who  later  became  Mrs. 
.lesse  Schert/.  K\  tliat  time  the  streets  in  the  city  were  bricked.  In 
the  backHround  some  of  the  (  orn  Carnival  decorations  can  be  seen. 


97 


Sleighs  and  cutters  pulled  by  horses  furnished 
the  winter  transportation  in  Gibson  City's  early 
days.  Mrs.  Lucy  Culter  is  pictured  at  the  corner 
of  Sangamon  and  11th  St.  The  Saxton  home  is  on 


the  corner  where  the  Gibson  Federal  Savings 
and  Loan  Ass'n  is  now.  The  old  Presbyterian 
Church  and  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  can  be  seen  in  the  bacliground. 


Tom  and  Charlie  were  the  names  of  the  matched  pair  that  pulled  John  F.  Riblefs  hack  in  the  early 
1900's. 


98 


High  board  sidewalks,  a  few  wooden  awnings  and  hitching  posts  -  and  lots  of  mud  -  is  the  Sangamon 
Avenue  of  the  early  I900's.  Shown  here  on  Gibson  City's  main  street  are  some  buggies  and  wagons 
pulled  by  horses.  Driving  the  team  in  the  center  of  the  picture  is  Sam  Preston. 


A  picture  post  card  of  Gibson  City's  business 
district  shows  the  way  cars  were  parked  "in  the 
good  old  days."  At  right  is  the  old  city   hall 


building.  This  post  card  was  provided  by  Vernon 
Anderson  and  uas  dated  Sept.  7.  1927. 


99 


REviSlONS          1 

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DATE 

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BY 

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117-62 

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LEGEND 

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100 


S.K.FTA.P  ILL    MARKED 
OR  U.S.  MARKED    RT. 
COUNTY   HIGHWAY 
COUNTY  HIGHWAY  EXT. 
ARTERIAL   STREET 
NGN -ART.  M.F.T.  ST. 
UN-OPENED  STREET 
CORPORATE    LIMITS 


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<D  (DO 

{     STATE  OF  ILLINOIS 

DEPARTMENT  OF  PUBLIC  WORKS  &  BUILDINGS 
DIVISION    OF  HIGHWAYS 

BUREAl!)  OF  LOCAL  ROADS  &  STREETS 
■Af^TERIAL  STREET  MAP 

OF 

GIBSON 

I  GIB.ON  '".ITY) 
FOmD  ("oUNTt' 
POPUl  ATION    I960  CEN«;uS  3.4i3 
juALF.  IN  FFf  r 
firr 


RUNWAYS 

Gibson  Citians  saw  their  first  aeroplane  Sept.  29,  1910, 
when  Walter  Brookins  flew  the  Wright  "B"  via  the  "iron 
compass"  (the  ICC  tracks)  from  Chicago  to  Springfield. 
Fifteen  year  old  Curtiss  La  Q  Day  launched  his  20  foot 
biplane  glider  in  March,  1911,  from  an  embankment  north  of 
town,  breaking  all  its  lower  ribs,  but  he  continued  learning  to 
fly  whenever  school  and  family  pressures  allowed. 

In  July,  1915,  Gibson  City  had  its  first  close  look  at  an 
aeroplane  (red  winged  Benoist)  when  La  Q  Aeroplane 
Company  sponsored  flying  exhibitions  at  the  old  fair  grounds 
west  of  the  Canning  Company.  "Satan"  Day,  dare  -  devil  boy 
aviator,  thrilled  a  large  audience  as  he  "soared  and  turned 
and  banked  and  dipped  ...  in  his  baby  biplane"  1500  feet 
above  the  ground,  while  the  ball  game  continued,  complete 
with  band  music,  and  the  flight  recorded  on  0.  B.  Lowery  and 
George  Nix's  movie  film.  (NOTE:  Complete  original  stories 
of  these  events  by  La  Q  Day  are  in  Aviation  Scrapbook  and 
Centennial  Corner  articles.) 

In  World  War  I,  Henry  Hager  was  an  aerial  observor  in 
France  in  1918.  "Ace"  pilot  William  Brotherton  was  killed  in 
aerial  combat  in  France  in  1918  and  was  honored  by  the 
"most  imposing  funeral  every  held  in  Ford  County,"  when  he 
was  brought  home  for  burial. 

Some  of  the  World  War  II  pilots  from  Gibson  City  were  Bill 
Briggs,  Loyal  Crowe  (both  career  Air  Force  men),  Jack 


Hayse  (served  again  in  Korean  conflict),  Richard  Schertz 
and  William  Utterback. 

An  air  strip  for  Gibson  City  was  constructed  in  1951  east  of 
Gibson  City  along  Rt.  54  on  the  Pearce  Estate  land,  farmed 
by  F.  E.  and  Floyd  Walker.  Flyers  active  at  this  time  were 
Woodrow  Barnes,  Elmer  Colwell,  D.  A.  Garard,  Howard 
Peters,  Lloyd  Sawyer,  and  Monnie  Wagonseller.  The  Gibson 
City  Flying  Club,  formed  in  the  early  1950's,  presently  owns 
two  aircraft  and  has  twelve  members. 

Presently  flying  in  the  armed  services  are  Army  1st  Lt. 
Robert  E.  Hester  and  Marine  2nd  Lt.  Leland  P.  Walters. 
Airline  pilots  are  Bill  Greime  with  Eastern;  David  Roop, 
Port  of  Call  Travel  Club,  and  Loyal  Crowe,  TWA. 

Gibson  City  Municipal  Airport,  located  five  miles  east  of 
Gibson  City,  opened  June  22,  1969.  Developed  by  cooperative 
efforts  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerpe,  City  Council,  and  many 
interested  private  citizens,  the  airport  has  a  current 
estimated  value  of  $65,000  with  a  cash  investment  of  ap- 
proximately $20,000.  Airport  manager  Dick  Schertz  leased  a 
portion  of  his  farm  land  to  the  city  at  $1.00  a  year,  so  the 
airport  could  be  constructed  to  serve  the  aeronautical  needs 
of  the  local  businesses  and  attract  more  industry  to  this  area. 

Presently  fifteen  airplanes  are  based  on  the  field, 
representing  six  local  businesses  and  several  within  15  mile 
radius.  A  flying  school  is  established,  charter  business  in 
operation  and  an  instrument  approach  system  in  the  offing. 
With  the  only  hard  surface  runway  in  Ford  County,  Gibson 
City  can  truly  be  proud  of  this  accomplishment. 


a 


La  Q  Aeroplane  Co.'s  Benoist  biplane  shown  at  Cicero      Susdorf,  v.p.;  Orris  Harry,  sec-  treas.;   George  Bloom, 
Field.  Chicago,   1915.   At   left,   wearing  cap,   is   William      pres.;  and  La  Q  Day  in  cockpit. 


.J^^^ 


Early  aviator  was  Curtiss  La  Q  Day,  shown  here  with  his 
mother,  Mrs.  Margaret  Day,  in  a  Wright  B  aeroplane.  1914. 


101 


municipni 

niRPORT 


jM»-lMiii»'' 


Located  five  miles  east  of  (iibson  City,  the  airport  was  developed  by  cooperative  efforts 
of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  City  Council  and  many  interested  citizens,  on  land 
donated  by  the  Richard  Schertz  family. 


I 


I'art  of  the  (iibson  City  Municipal  Airport  is  shown  at  the     runway  at  the  top  is  joined  by  taxiway  running  to  hangars 
dedication,  .June  Tl.  1!M1!(.  The  half  mile  long  hard  surface     under  construction.  Airplane  tiedown  area  is  at  left. 


102 


American  l.cuinn  and  \  iici  ans  dl  1  .m  ii-n  \\  ii  •-  members  made  up 
the  color  guard   which   led  the   Mi'inoiial   l)a>    parade. 


World  War  II  Honor  Hull 


V 
E 
T 
E 
R 
A 


S 


103 


I.KKI.OWFRYPOST 

Lee  Lm^Try  Posl  No.  568  of  the  American  Legion  was 
organized  Nov  1 1 ,  1919.  The  first  meeting  was  held  in  Lms 
above  Peter  Sehertz  Lumber  Co.  (Now  Hager  Lumbe" 

The  charier  lor  the  post  was  signed  by  the  national  com- 
mander Aug.  1,  I920.andby  the  state  commander  on  Aug.  20. 

The  post  was  named  in  memory  of  Lee  Lowerv  who  was 
killed  Oct    29,  I9I8  in  World  War  I 

There  were  50  charter  members  and  Dr.  R.  N.  Lane  served 
as  thegroups  first  commander.  Three  of  them  sfill  liv»  ,„^ 
"-■-de  in  Gibson  City.  They  are  Elmer  Sawye^  Wa  ter  pS 
and  Clifford  Augspurger  *^  ^" 

William  D  Barnhart  was  honored  and  presented  a  life 
membership  in  1970.  F'cseniea  a  lite 

The  posl  celebrated  its  50th  anniversary  in  1969 
A  big  undertaking  was  the  purchase  of  their  downtown  two 
^  lory  building  in  1944  located  on  the  northwest  corner  of  9^ 
SI.  and  Sangamon  Ave.  (former  I  O  0  F   hall) 

On  Dec  21,  1970,  14  World  War  I  veterans  held  their  fi«t 
reunion  in  20  years  at  the  Legion  Hall.  They  voted  to  makel 
an  annual  county  -  wide  event  'omaKeit 

The  Sons  of  the  American  Legion  unit  was  orcaniri^l  in 
March  1971  with  15  charter  members  oi-ganized  in 

A  complete  list  of  charter  members  follows 
Robert  N.Lane,  George  W.  Blades,  J.  F  Main  Wade  Hool 
Charles  E.  Lowe,^  Jr.,  Earl  G.  Guy,  Floyd  Sawye"c 

^arbo'!  p  '°"-  ^c"''y  ^  «">••  Charles  Whallon,AnTew  R 
ElmeTsp'ar":-  ''"^"'  '™^"  '   °^"-'  ^^  ^    ^^"^P^. 

ChLfp.^''^''''"]•  ^°^  Kightlinger,  Hampton  G.  Bergstrom 
Charles  C^L.ndauer,  Virgil  Speers,  Walter  Piatt  fSb' 
Morgan^  Fred  J.  Glose,  Harlow  A.  Stauffer  E  E  PotJ 
Lucian  Speer,  L.  H.  Lohman,  Fred  W.  Johnson^icha^d  S: 

Hin^'^^,,^''^'''•  ^'  ^  ^^""^^  Thomas  Brown  Leonard  F 

Harold  M.  Kempl^ Ern'm^^Lf  R^^e^    ;^^fi„^„  |P^J,^. 
Robert  Burns,  Floyd  Speedie,  H.  A.  Lovet    H  W  WiLn  n' 

Cliri^Sr.^e?"^^^'"'-'  ^'-^  ^"  ""e^^i^ran'd 


Lee  C.  Lowery 
killed  in  action 
Sept.  26,  1918 


StaffSgt.  John  Keller 
Died  April  24, 1942 


Lt.  William  Brotherton 
Died  Oct.  10, 1918 


104   . 


Civil  War  veterans  who  marched  in  the 
Memorial  Day  parade  in  lilL'T  included  two  Negro 
citizens  in  the  community.  The  picture  was  taken 
on  May  2!».  1!t27.  A  portion  of  the  former 
Kvangelical  I'nited  Brethern  Church  is  shown  at 


right  with  the  present  Ivan  Donner  home  in  the 
hackground.  Pictured  from  left  are  Page  Price, 
Poly  Wright.  William  -Paf  Day.  John  Ross, 
Gilbert  Jordan,  Sam  Kashner  and  George  Haupt. 


CIVIL  WAR  VETERAN 


Another  era  in  the  history  of  Gibson  City  came  to  an  end  in 
May,  19.37.  when  William  "Pat"  Day,  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  represented  locally  by  Lott  Post  No. 
70,  passed  awav  at  the  age  of  ninety  -  seven. 

Mr.  Day  enlisted  in  Company  G  of  the  thirty  -  seventh 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  in  Chicago,  there  being  no  con- 


tingent in  Gibson  City.  He  participated  in  eleven  major 
battles,  and  was  wounded  four  times  by  Confederate  bullets. 
He  was  in  company  with  Sherman  on  his  March  to  the  Sea, 
his  most  important  engagement  being  the  battle  of 
Vicksburg.  On  October  fourth,  1864,  he  was  honorably 
discharged  and  returned  to  Gibson  City  to  resume  farming. 


VFW 


In  19,50,  and  early  1951.  three  men  from  Gibson  City 
belonged  In  the  Bloomington  VFW  post.  They  were  Ed  Fox, 
Bill  Popletl,  and  Dick  Goben.  It  was  suggested  to  them  that 
Ihev  start  a  post  in  Gibson  City. 

The  first  meeting  was  held  March  11,  1951  at  the  Grade 
School  These  are  the  minutes  of  that  first  meeting: 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  Jack  Duggins,  7th 
District  Commander,  with  23  applicants  present.  The 
obligation  was  given  by  Commander  McReynolds  of  Post  454. 
The  following  men  were  elected  to  office:  William  Hoover, 
commander;  Bill  Scott,  Sr.  vice  -  commander;  James 
Taylor,  Jr.  vice  -  commander;  Dick  Goben,  quartermaster; 
and  Dean  Shull.  adjutant.  The  regular  meetings  will  be  held 
on  the  first  and  third  Thursdays  of  each  month,  at  7:30,  at 
Goben's  Bakery. 

L.  J.  Weber,  Asst.  Inspector 
Acting  Adjutant 
Meeting  places  were  Goben's  Bakery,  basement  of  the  old 
library,  around  tables  at  the  South  Park,  and  the  Boy  Scout 
Cabin    In  May  1952,  a  vote  was  taken,  and  passed,  to  pur- 
chase the  present  building. 

Our  first  meeting  in  the  new  building  was  held  in  February 
1953.  Our  mortgage  burning  ceremony  was  held  in  December 
1968. 

The  building  has  been  remodeled  several  times.  The  latest 
is  the  rear  addition  being  made  into  a  bar  room. 

The  Ladies  Auxiliary  was  formed  in  December  1951,  with 
the  following  officers:   Maria  Ehresman,  president;   Jean 


Grossman,  Sr.  vice  -  president;  Freeda  Theesfield,  Jr.  vice  - 

president;  Mary  Lou  Ferguson,  treasurer;  and  Janine  Shull, 

secretary. 

Past  Commanders 

Dr.  R.  N.  Lane,  1920;  J.  F.  Main,  1921;  A.  C.  Rasmussen, 
1922;  Chas.  Whalen,  1923;  W.  R.  PlatI,  1924;  Ray  Speedie, 
1925;  Chas.  Keller.  1926;  A.  Brading.  1927;  G.  M.  Rickelts, 
1928;  H.  Murry,  1929; 

Joe  Schrock,  19,30;  Simon  Denne  (deceased  April  13,  1931 ); 
William  Wilken  (unexpired  term  of  S.  Denne).  and  1932; 
Roy  Main,  1933;  Lee  Barnhart,  1934;  Henry  Hager,  19,35;  Dr. 
L.  E.  Potts,  19,36;  W.  M.  Loy,  19,37;  Glen  Fitzpatrick,  1938;  W. 
L.  Barnhart,  19,39; 

R.  O.  Ringhand.  1940;  George  Swearingen,  1941;  Clifford 
Augspurger,  1942;  Clifford  Okey,  1943;  Dwight  Aug.spurger, 
1944;  Richard  Goodcll,  1945;  Lyle  Kashner,  1946;  Andy 
Rovnolds,  1947;  Mandel  Loeb,  1948;  Owen  Crowe,  1949; 

Keith  Sample,  19,50;  Chas.  Willetts,  1951;  Corlis  Fmis  (un- 
expired term  of  C.  Willctsi.  1951;  Earl  Wright,  1952;  Robert 
Deener.  1953;  Frederick  Zander,  19.54;  LynnOgg,  1955;  Glenn 
Barrow,  1956;  William  Zimmerman,  1957;  Henry  Wilken, 
1958;  John  Thomsen  (unexpired  term  of  H.  Wilken)  19,58; 
George  Lange.  19,59; 

Donald  Hudson.  1960;  Richard  Rhodes,  1961;  John  Sample, 
1962;  Orville  Willemsscn,  1963:  David  Randa,  1964;  Charles 
Schutte,  1%5;  Harry  Ricks,  1966;  John  Muters,  1967;  Frank 
Berkler.  1968;  Wayne  Perkins,  1969;  Robert  Thomsen,  1970 
and  Charles  Bane,"  1971. 


105 


WOMKN  REIJKF  CORPS  AUXILIARY 
C.RAND  ARMY  OF  REPUBLIC 

Women  Relief  Corps.  Auxiliary  Grand  Army  of  Republic, 
was  organized  and  the  charter  was  signed  April  16, 1885. 

There  were  37  members  and  the  corp  was  named  after 
Margaret  Lotl.  Thereby  the  name  of  Lott  Women  Relief 
Corps  No.  24. 

The  meeting  place  was  the  Noble  building  until  sold  then  in 
Ihe  basement  of  the  Moyer  Library.  Now  in  1971  with  13 
members  we  meet  in  homes  and  the  Assembly  of  God 
Church. 

The  dues  at  Ihe  time  of  charter  was  one  dollar  a  year  after 
8(i  years  the  yearly  dues  are  $1.25. 

All  of  the  Corps  pictures  and  property  is  in  a  WRC  Museum 
at  Springfield,  111. 


THE  LEE  LOWERY  UNIT  568 
AMERICAN  LEGION  AUXILIARY 

A  group  of  ladies  met  and  organized  the  American  Legion 
Auxiliary,  Lee  Lowery  Unit  568  Department  of  Illinois  in 
1920.  Their  charter  was  issued  January  1,  1921.  There  are  83 
names  on  the  charter,  wives,  mothers,  sisters  and  daughters 
of  World  War  I  veterans,  who  had  the  year  before  formed  the 
Lee  Lowery  Post  568. 

Mrs.  Martha  Patton  was  the  first  president.  Of  the  original 
members  six  are  still  members  of  the  present  unit.  They  are 
Mrs.  Mae  Brading,  Mrs.  Marie  Whallon,  Mrs.  Emma  Jensen, 
Mrs.  Elmer  Sawyer,  Mrs.  Lulu  Phares  and  Mrs.  Vesta 
Preston.  Most  of  the  early  records  are  misplaced  or 
destroyed. 

The  American  Legion  Auxiliarys  purpose  "to  contribute  to 
the  accomplishments  of  the  aims  and  purposes  of  the 
American  Legion."  Its  activities  are  designed  to  carry  out 
the  parts  of  the  American  Legion  program  which  can  best  be 
accomplished  by  the  work  of  women.  Now  membership  is 
limited  to  women  who  have  personal  connections  with  World 
War  I  and  II,  the  Korean  and  Vietnam  Conflicts. 

As  it  was  fifty  years  ago  this  Unit  is  still  active  today  with 
community  service,  child  welfare,  Americanism  and 
rehabilitation. 

Mrs.  John  Muters  is  the  present  president  with  105 
members. 


>Irs.  Laurel  Piiifj.  new  president  of  the  \'.F".\V. 
\ii\iliary  accepts  Ihe  gavel  from  retiring 
president  Mrs.  William  Pearson  al  their  in- 
stallation ceremon\ .  Other  officers  and  new 
members  are  i  front  row  from  left'  Mrs.  Frank 
Warder,  trustee:  Mrs.  Dono\an  Taylor,  junior 
vice  president;  Mrs.  Harold  Andreae.  guard; 
.Mrs.  \  irgil  .Steuart.  trustee.  Back  ro«  from  left 


to  right  are;  Mrs.  Charles  Schutte.  treasurer: 
Mrs  \adine  Tomblin.  secretary:  Mrs.  Zelma 
Bane;  Mrs.  Wilnia  Tandy,  chaplain;  Miss  (;ioria 
.lean  Kenned\  ;  Mrs.  Robert  Crossnian.  senior 
\ice  president;  Mrs.  Donald  Douglas,  Mrs. 
Frank  Hendricks,  conductress  and  Mrs.  Kenneth 
Meredith. 


106 


i 


The  AiiuTU-nn  Legion  and  \  eterans  of  I'oreign 
Wars  firing  s<niad 


Kennedi  \\ .  Meredith  Mofti  was  installed  as  the 
new  commander  of  the  Brotherton  -  Keller  Post 
No.  f.2S!l  of  the  \'.K.\\ .  Laurel  I'inK-  senior  vice 
commander  of  the  7th  district  was  the  installing 
officer.  Other  officers  installed  were  (from  left) 


Meredith,  .\lhert  Tongate.  trustee;  Ping.  Ray 
Mc(;ehee.  trustee:  Sam  Barrow,  adjutant:  Roy 
Rovd.  junior  vice  commander:  .lerry  (larard. 
senior  vice  commander:  Robert  Grossman, 
historian  and  Virgil  Stewart,  quartermaster. 


107 


Reference  Sources 


Gardner,  E.  A.  -  History  of  Ford  County  Illinois  from 
Its  Earliest  Settlement  to  1908 

Beers,  J.  H.  -  Illinois  Historical  Atlas  of  Ford  County, 
Illinois  -  Chicago,  1884 

Centurama  -  Ford  County,  Illinois,  1859  -  1959 

A  Building  &  Educational  Self  Survey  of  the  Gibson  City 
Unit  School  District  No.  1949-1950 

City  Directory,  City  of  Gibson,  Illinois,  sponsored  by 
Chamber  of  Commerce 

Mary  Grim  Pate  -  The  Pioneer  Village  of  Gibson  City 
(written  in  1940),  published  by 
The  Gibson  City  Courier  1954-1955 

Ed  Bergstrom  -  History  of  Gibson  City,  published  by 
The  Gibson  City  Courier  -  1953 

"Centennial  Corner"  -  A  series  of  articles  published  by 
The  Gibson  City  Courier  in  1971, 
written  by  many  contributors. 

Original  La  Q  Day  Stories  in  Gibson  City  Aviation 

Scrap  Book  compiled  by  Mrs.  Richard  Schertz 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOISURBANA 

Q.977362L916  COOl 

A  LOTT  OF  CITY  IN  100  YEARS"  1871-197 


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